After shelving the Airport Metro corridor project, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is reportedly putting a hold on the repeal of the contentious GO 111, aimed at preventing pollution within a 10-km radius around Osmansagar and Himayatsagar by restricting development.
Although the K. Chandrasekhar Rao-led government repealed the GO last year, the replacement, Government Order 63, outlining guidelines for changing land use from conservation zone to residential, commercial, or multipurpose, was not implemented. This change would subsequently allow for the construction of structures.
Expressing skepticism about the logic behind pursuing the Metro Rail corridor between Raidurg and the Shamshabad airport along the Outer Ring Road at a recent review meeting, the Chief Minister stated that it would be an unnecessary expenditure, given that a significant portion of the area falls under GO 111, restricting growth. He reiterated this stance during an informal conversation with journalists on Thursday.
Chandrasekhar Rao had hastily announced the repeal of GO 111 ahead of elections, seemingly to project a positive image of real estate in Hyderabad and win over voters in villages affected by GO 111. To avoid legal challenges from environmentalists, the BRS government had assured that it would take all necessary measures to prevent lake pollution and would develop a master plan before permitting any activities.
However, after the announcement, no progress was made. An official from municipal administration and urban development noted, "We gave an undertaking to the High Court that no permission will be given until the guidelines are framed and zonal planning is undertaken."
While the previous government approved some applications for changing land use in specific parcels in Vattinagulapalli following a High Court decision to release certain survey numbers from the restricted zone, GO 111 did not specify survey numbers, only referring to villages in the restricted development zone. Nevertheless, the court, relying on a report by the Environment Protection, Training, and Research Institute (EPTRI), ordered the removal of select survey numbers from the restricted zone.
