There are ambitious statements from the TRS-led government in Telangana on reviving all old lakes in the state, which is being welcomed by everyone with appreciation but the manner in which KCR has taken stand on GO 111 is causing nightmares to environmentalists.

The catchment areas of the two major sources of drinking water to the city , Osmansagar and Himayathsagar, would be coming under increased threat from construction activity with TRS boss KCR considering the relaxing of G.O 111 which protects till the10 km radius of the catchment areas of these two lakes. Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has stated that the government would soon withdraw restrictions that were imposed by the G.O which was issued in March, 1996, bringing 84 villages that fall in the catchment area of these two fresh water lakes as part of bio-conservation zone.

The objective was to protect the areas that feed both Himayathsagar and Osmansagar. When real estate boom picked up around 2005 in Hyderabad, the land prices skyrocketed in surrounding areas promoting the then chief minister YSR to relax G.O. 111 in Shamshabad and Vattinagulapally but he retracted due to objections raised by some environmentalists, who feel that the government is surrendering to real estate lobby.