In a startling turn of events, the Telangana government has decided to repeal Government Order 111 (GO111), which was originally issued on 8th March 1996. This decision has raised concerns about the government’s alleged contempt of a Supreme Court order from 2000. GO111 was implemented to ensure the preservation of reservoirs and maintain their potability for drinking water. It imposed a ban on large-scale constructions, such as hotels, industries, and residential complexes, while also emphasizing the need for open spaces and conservation efforts.
GO111 was issued based on two expert committee reports cited in GO 192, which was issued in 1994. The Supreme Court intervened in the matter when Surana Oils attempted to override GO192. The Pollution Control Board, in accordance with the Supreme Court’s request, submitted three scientific reports from NGRI Hyderabad, Dr Bhowmick IIT Mumbai, and NEAA New Delhi. These reports supported GO111 and upheld the decision to prevent polluting industries from being established within a 10-kilometer catchment area surrounding the reservoirs.
Surana Oils’ application was dismissed by the Supreme Court, which applied global environmental principles such as the “Precautionary Principle” and “Burden of Proof.” The court upheld the decision of the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board to reject permission for Surana Oils.
The case regarding GO111 is currently subjudice in the High Court at Hyderabad, with the government filing an affidavit on 6th September 2022, stating that the bans imposed by GO111 to protect Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs remain in effect. However, within months of repealing the ban through GO 69 in April 2022, the Telangana government filed another affidavit in the High Court in September 2022, once again asserting the ban’s validity.
Despite these conflicting actions, Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs continue to provide drinking water even today, with 65 million gallons and 9 million gallons drawn from them on 18th May 2023, respectively. The maintenance of these reservoirs’ potability standards requires a pollution-free buffer zone of 10 kilometers encompassing 84 villages.
Rather than addressing the existing encroachments within the reservoirs and taking measures to prevent sewage from directly entering the reservoirs, the government’s decision to repeal GO111 implies an acceptance of further pollution caused by constructions. The inclusion of HMDA guidelines and the potential declaration of the area under TSIIC and IALA is viewed as a death knell for the reservoirs.
The government’s claims of promoting development as a welfare measure for the people fail to address the concerns regarding water pollution and conservation. Additionally, the government’s contradictory statements regarding the formation and reliance on a three-member high-power committee raise doubts about the decision-making process and the absence of expert reports to substantiate the repeal of GO111.
It is imperative that Hyderabad retains its drinking water source within a 20-kilometer radius, as the water from these reservoirs is crucial for the basic needs of hundreds of thousands of people. The decision to repeal GO111, despite the matter being subjudice in the High Court, lacks scientific reasoning and democratic procedures.
Considering these concerns, it is requested that the Telangana government reconsider its decision to repeal GO111 and uphold its operation. Furthermore, urgent action should be taken to remove encroachments within the reservoirs and prevent pollution from entering directly. Restoring the reservoirs to their original extent will facilitate greater storage of rainwater. Transparency, accountability, and ethics must be maintained in the governance of Telangana
