Hyderabad, Feb. 11 -- The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority's (HMDA) move to convert parts of Gopi Cheruvu Lake, a notified water body, its full tank limits and its buffer zone, into a residential zone, has drawn sharp criticism.

Activists say that the move is illegal and is in contempt of Supreme Court orders.

Hyderabad-based activist Lubna Sarwath flagged a government memo, issued by the HMDA on January 10, inviting objections or suggestions regarding the proposal of re-designating parts of Gopi Cheruvu in Serilingamapally (Village & Mandal), Ranga Reddy District, and its buffer zone into a residential use zone.

In a letter Lubna Sarwath wrote to the metropolitan commissioner of the HMDA, stating that the act of issuing a ...