The Hyderabad High Court directed the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) on Wednesday to stop all alleged construction activity on the bed of Masab lake, situated at the outskirts of Hyderabad.
The lake is situated in Gurram Guda village in Abdullapet mandal of Ranga Reddy district.
The Times of India reported that the court was dealing with a PIL filed by one G R Karunakar, who alleged that several structures were being put up on the bed, within the Full Tank Level (FTL) of the lake.
He also alleged that it all began after the gram panchayat gave permission for construction of a gaushala, under the directions of an RDO and the local MLA, the TOI report added.
With an order to halt all construction activity, HMDA has been given a week's time to respond.
This also comes a week after the HC issued notices to around 30 professional colleges located within a 10km radius of the Osmansagar and Himayatsagar lakes in the city.
The colleges were sent notices, as they allegedly violated Government Order (GO) 111, which prohibits any construction activity within 10km from the lakes' FTL.
The petitioner had alleged that these buildings were a major source of pollution, and even affected the inflow channel of the lake.
The court had also served notices to the HMDA and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).
Activists are also presently fighting a case against 'beautification' works at the Malkam Cheruvu (lake) in the city.
Filing a contempt petition, they have also accused GHMC of violating a stay order.
"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," activists said in a statement.
They contended that it was a violation of an order by the HC on May 25, when 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.”