ORR Growth Corridor- Draft Master Plan 2031- G.O.111

 

 

The Outer Ring Road (ORR) was aligned along the bund of Himayat Sagar and cutting across the prohibited catchment area of Osman Sagar between Vattinagulapalli and Khanapur villages of Rajendranagar Mandal of RR District in supersession of the provisions of G.O.111 and in disregard to Supreme Court directive dated 1 st December 2000. This is likely to result in acidification of the reservoirs due to air pollution from heavy vehicular traffic on ORR. The necessary measures need to be initiated and implemented, for developing a massive Barrier of Green-Belt on water front side of the ORR. to prevent acidification of the drinking water sources.

 

Development Activities in Prohibited Catchment Area

 

 It is observed that considerable development activities are taking place around Vattinagulapalli village and towards Khanapur village, both of which are in the prohibited catchment area. This is happening in spite of MA&UD, Memo No.14046/11/2007 dated 12-10-2007, directing HUDA and the District Collector of Ranga Reddy, to ensure that no construction or development comes in prohibited catchment area of the Water Bodies. It also directs .to keep a strict vigil and take stringent action against the violators of the provisions of G.O.111, as per the law.  

 

Developments Down Stream

 

 The State Government, with a view to prevent any possible direct pollution into Osman and Himayat Sagar lakes, the main drinking water sources for Hyderabad, issued  Memo N0.261/1/2006 dated 16-07-2007 specifying the regulation measures, applicable to the Down Stream areas of the two water bodies. Some of them are:

 

a)No development up to 500 Mtrs  from the Bund/FTL in the Down Stream and declared 
    as Prohibited Zone

 

b) Beyond 500 Mtrs and up to 1000 Mtrs ( I KM ) in the Down Stream , only low rise
    Residential development (G+2 floors) will be allowed

 

c) Beyond 1000 Mtrs distance in the Down Stream, all developments such as
     Residential, Commercial, I.T Units, Hotels, Public & Semi Public developments,
     except the specified 68 industries are permitted.

 

d) HMDA is designated as the Nodal Agency to enforce these Regulations

 

The Gandipet is one of the villages within 500 Mtrs, down stream and should be treated as prohibited zone as per the Memo dated 16-7-2007. But unfortunately, considerable development /commercial activities are reported to be taking place around there with or without the knowledge/consent of the authorities concerned. This needs to be prevented before it is too late.

 

Activities in ORR Growth Corridor

 

The G.O.Ms.No No 470 dated 09-07-2008 was issued notifying Special Development Regulations for 1 Km Belt on either side of the entire stretch of 162 Kms Outer Ring Road (ORR) – Hyderabad Outer Ring Road Growth Corridor (ORR-GC). These Regulations clearly sate that the restrictions imposed under the G.O.111, are applicable for the areas covered both under G.O.111& ORR-GC, regarding Building and Development activities. But unfortunately they are neither being observed in ORR-GC, nor being enforced by the concerned agencies

 

Draft Master Plan 2031

 

The draft Master Plan 2031 notified by HMDA, clearly states that the developments should take place in the area marked Bio-Conservation Zone only  in accordance with restrictions imposed under G.O.111. But unfortunately, more than 25% of the area marked Bio- Conservation Zone in the Draft Master Plan appears to have already been converted for other purposes either legally or illegally. This is being highlighted and brought to the notice of the authorities concerned, including Hon'ble Chief Ministers from time to time for about a decade. By the time, the draft Master Plan is finalized, there may be not be much of the area marked Bio-Conservation Zone, left.

 

Conclusion

 

 The painful and unpleasant conclusion is that the State Administration seems to have lost its credibility in the eyes of the Public, as it does not seem to be serious to implement the G.Os /Regulations / Rules issued. Firstly, the Delivery System at the grass roots level is insensitive, unresponsive and ineffective. Secondly, there is no Good Governance from Top to Bottom. And Thirdly, there are no independent Monitoring/ Regulating /Implementing Agencies, which can act and function without the interference of NETA/BABU nexus. Without these, Jan Lokpal Bill or No Bill, the Corruption will spread like cancer, harming the well being of the Nation

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