BRS move triggered litigation; Congress kept repeal on hold pending committee report
Hyderabad: The previous BRS government had decided in its Cabinet meeting on May 18, 2023, to repeal GO 111 and apply the land-use regulations applicable in then GHMC area to the 84 villages, triggering prolonged litigation.
It argued that residents had long demanded removal of the restrictions, which had stalled development, and maintained that Hyderabad and surrounding areas were no longer dependent on the twin reservoirs for drinking water.
The decision was challenged in the Telangana High Court, and the repeal was never implemented.
In September 2023, the then BRS government assured the Telangana High Court that GO 111 would remain in force until the expert committee submitted its report.
The delay in submitting the report led to several writ petitions. During hearings, one group of petitioners argued that GO 111 should continue in view of environmental concerns and the need to protect the reservoirs, while another sought its repeal, contending that the reservoirs now contribute less than 1.25 per cent of Hyderabad's drinking water supply because the city primarily depends on Krishna, Godavari and Manjeera waters.
After the Congress assumed office in December 2023, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy kept the repeal on hold and informed the High Court that a high-power committee would first examine the environmental and planning implications before any final decision was taken. With the committee's report now ready, the Cabinet's decision is expected to determine the future development framework for one of Hyderabad's most environmentally sensitive regions.
