Hyderabad, March 24 -- A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Telangana High Court seeking the designation of the 400-acre forest at Kancha Gachibowli as an ecologically sensitive zone amid ongoing conservation efforts.

The petition emphasizes the forest's ecological significance, highlighting its diverse species, including endangered ones, as well as its two lakes and thousands of trees and shrubs that provide essential green space for the rapidly urbanizing city.

The forest is noted for its unique rock formations, including one informally known as "mushroom rock." It encompasses Buffalo Lake and Peacock Lake, making it a crucial habitat for approximately 237 bird species, peacocks, and various wildlife such as spotte...