On Wednesday, the Telangana State government promulgated an order to confiscate restrictions regarding a Government Order (GO) 111, dated March 8, 1996. The restrictions were removed, subject to the condition that the water quality of these Osmansagar and Himayatsagar, would be impacted in any way.
Earlier on April 12, the government broadcasted GO 69, which would be befitting for 84 villages (1.32 lakh acres), which are under the confines of GO 111. In the newly proposed GO 69, the TRS government said that Hyderabad city’s drinking water provisions are not sustained by Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs, and it is the basic reason for the dispensation of GO 111.
The government stated that the GO 111 was issued to eradicate polluting industries, major hotels, residential colonies, and other initiations that produce pollution in the catchment area of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar reservoirs, up to 10 km from the Full Tank Level, covering 84 villages with an area of 1.32 lakh acres approximately. The govt has done so with the objective of securing the catchment area of these two reservoirs which were the primary source of drinking water for the city during that period.
It is ready to take up the initiation of a decentralized sewerage treatments plants at several locations, as it removed the restrictions. The government can also undertake the construction of diversion channels for carrying treated water without allowing it into these two reservoirs up to the time it can maintain groundwater quality, reduce pollution through agricultural surface run-off into these two reservoirs, and any other measures as considered appropriate to warrant the water quality.
Techniques for the development of trunk infrastructure will be broadcasted by the panel in order to use resources for taking up trunk infrastructure i.e., roads, major drains, STPs, diversion drains, and others. The government has asked the committee to present a report as soon as possible, having regard to these constituents.