Activists from Save Our Urban Lakes (SOUL) and a group of fishermen, filed a contempt petition in the Hyderabad High Court on Monday accusing the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) of violating a stay order.

The activists alleged that the GHMC was going on with its 'beautification' works at the Malkam Cheruvu (lake), despite a stay order from the HC, dated May 25, 2017.

"The lake has shrunk by almost 4 acres due to construction of a road inside the Malkam Cheruvu in the name of a 'walkway'. On June 18, we saw vehicles plying on the walkway, while cement bricks were being laid on either sides of it," Dr Lubna Sarwath, one of the convenors of SOUL said.

The GHMC had earlier announced that they were planning to 'develop' the lake into a hangout spot, and 'beautify' its premises. The project will be carried out in four phases, at an estimated cost of Rs 1.6 crore.

On May 25, the court had directed the GHMC, “not to carry out any work that affects the buffer zone, full tank level (FTL) or inlet and outlet channels of the lake.”

This order had come after a group of fishermen moved the court, claiming that the lake was a source of livelihood for them. 

Activists had alleged that the dumping of mud for the walkway had blocked the inflow channel, that carried rain water to the lake, along with surplus fresh water from Durgam lake.

They have also been taking photographs of ongoing work at the lake, despite the stay order.

"We demand that the entire road constructed inside the lake, be dredged," the activists said in a statement.

At present, the court awaits a response from the GHMC and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) on the allegations of the activists and fishermen.