Government Order (GO) 111

In News

• Telangana government is being criticised for withdrawing an over 25-year-old government order protecting the historic Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs in Hyderabad.

Government Order 111

• About: 
  • On March 8, 1996, the government of erstwhile (undivided) Andhra Pradesh had issued ‘Government Order (GO) 111’ prohibiting development or construction works in the catchment area of the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar lakes up to a radius of 10 km.
• What does order do? 
  • The GO prohibited the setting up of industries, residential colonies, hotels, etc. which cause pollution. 
  • Development in residential zones are permitted but the order specifically classifies land use of about 90 percent of the area for recreation and conservation. 
  • About 60 percent of the total area shall be kept as open space and roads in all layouts in the villages of the catchment area.
  • The aim of the restrictions was to protect the catchment area, and to keep the reservoirs pollution-free. 
• Applicable to: 
  • It is applicable to 1.32 lakh acres of land in 84 villages, in mandals with proximity to Hyderabad, such as Shamshabad, Rajendranagar, Moinabad, Chevella, Shabad, etc. 
  • The 84 villages fall under the 10-km catchment area of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar. 

Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar

• They were built in 1920 and 1927, respectively, under the last Nizam-era ruler Mir Osman Ali Khan, after the devastating 1908 floods in Hyderabad that killed thousands. 
• Legendary engineer M. Visvesvaraya was brought in to make the city flood-proof. Under his recommendation to control excess water during floods, these two massive storage reservoirs were built.
• The reservoirs eventually became a crucial source of drinking water as water from river Musi and Esa were stored in the storage units.
  • Musi is also known as Moosa or Muchkunda and a major tributary of the Krishna River.

Source: IE