Hyderabad: The controversy over the Government Order (GO) 111 prohibiting construction activity within 10-km radius of twin lakes. Himayathsagar and Osman Sagar has flared up again.
The Ranga Reddy district administration issued notices to a few builders threatening demolition of properties falling within GO 111 limits.
Builders alleged discrimination by officials saying several hotels, resorts, farm houses and colleges had come up within those limits, but officials were selectively targeting a few builders.
They argued that Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had announced withdrawal of GO 111 several times on the ground that it was obstructing the development of surrounding villages and even appointed a committee with senior officials to examine the issue. They pointed out that GO 111 was issued in the late 1990s when the city’s drinking water was solely dependent on the two lakes.
Now, the entire city’s drinking water needs were met by water from the Godavari and the Krishna, making the GO irrelevant.
Builder A. Ramesh Reddy, who was issued the notice, said, “If officials are really sincere on implementing GO 111, they should first initiate action against hotels, resorts, professional colleges and permanent constructions in farm houses that have come up in the vicinity of these lakes. Instead, they are trying to threaten others who are doing constructions far away from the lakes.”
However, Ranga Reddy collector M. Raghunandan Rao said they were going as per the norms laid down in GO 111. Action would be initiated against all constructions that violated the order.
