Panel warns against scrapping of GO 111

HYDERABAD: A three-member committee, which was set up to examine the effects of scrapping (Government Order) GO 111, has warned the government against it. The government has been lobbying to scrap the order, which will allow for unrestrained construction and industrial activity around the area. Emptying them out of all water is likely to make the catchment area prone to earthquakes. According to Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, the reservoirs have fallen into disuse and therefore, the government order protecting them is redundant. Environmental Experts have, however, countered this argument saying that the lakes still provide relief during the floods by capturing excess water.

Issued in 1996, GO 111 is an order passed by the erstwhile government to conserve the twin heritage lakes of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar constructed in 1926. According to the order, any construction and industrial activity around 10 kilometers radius of the lakes is prohibited. These reservoirs were built to store excessive water during floods and mitigate its disastrous consequences. Overtime, these reservoirs have also become a local source for drinking water in the city.

Although, the move is likely to benefit the real estate sector and boost urbanization, its fallout on environment is way too big a risk. Moreover, Supreme Court has also ruled against any industrial activity in the catchment area in an earlier case.