Introduction — GO 111 Hyderabad
GO 111 (Government Order Ms. No. 111) is an order issued in March 1996 to protect the catchment areas of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar. It made the land around these two reservoirs a bio-conservation area. The main rule of GO 111 Hyderabad is no polluting or heavy construction within a 10 km radius of each lake. The aim was to keep drinking water clean and to protect flood control capacity.
Since 1996 the situation has changed. Hyderabad now draws major water from river projects (Krishna, Godavari, Kaleshwaram), so some leaders argued GO 111 became less critical. The state government issued GO 69 to lift some restrictions, but activists filed PILs. Courts and expert committees then asked for careful review.
The sequence that frames the debate today:
1996 order → 2022–23 repeal attempts → PILs and holds
- Introduction — GO 111 Hyderabad
- History and why GO 111 was issued
- What GO 111 requires — rules and land use limits
- The villages covered — who the order affects
- Modern water projects and why the lakes still matter
- Pros and cons — a balanced view
- Repeal attempts, GO 69, PILs and court action
- Voices from environmentalists and experts
- What a careful revision should require — an expert checklist
- Impact on real estate and practical advice for buyers and owners
- Timeline — short quick view
- FAQs
History and why GO 111 was issued
Before big river projects, Hyderabad depended mostly on local reservoirs for water. Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar supplied drinking water and helped control floods. As the city expanded, people worried that factories, dense construction, and sewer leaks near the lakes would pollute the water and harm supply. A committee and environmental authorities studied the area and recommended strong limits. The government adopted those recommendations as GO 111 in 1996.
When a city uses local lakes for drinking water, small contamination sources add up. Urban runoff, untreated septic tanks, and industrial effluent can all travel into a lake through drains and streams. GO 111 was a preventive legal measure to stop that accumulation.
What GO 111 requires — rules and land use limits
- 10 km no-pollution buffer around each reservoir. No industrial plants, polluting units, or large commercial works that can harm water.
- Catchment area classified as bio-conservation zone. That means the default is conservation, not development.
- Residential building: allowed only in designated residential zones and must follow limits. Villages must keep a lot of open space.
- At least 60% of the village area must be open space and roads.
- Up to 90% of land is for agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, recreation and conservation.
| Allowed (with rules) | Not allowed |
| Low-density residential in mapped zones (with open space rules) | New industrial units |
| Agriculture, horticulture, floriculture | Large commercial complexes |
| Recreational and conservation uses | Polluting factories, sewage discharge without treatment |
These rules aim to keep runoff clean and preserve soil cover that slows floodwaters.
The villages covered — who the order affects
GO 111 covers 7 mandals and 84 villages around the twin reservoirs. This list matters because local zoning, land value, and development approvals are tied to these village limits. Below is the full list taken from government and local reports (kept in the same order as public lists):
GO 111 Village List:
| S No. | Village Name | Mandal Name |
| 1 | Aziznagar | Moinabad |
| 2 | Yenkatpally | Moinabad |
| 3 | Mumtazguda | Moinabad |
| 4 | Sajjanpalli | Moinabad |
| 5 | Surgangal | Moinabad |
| 6 | Naebnagar | Moinabad |
| 7 | Bangallaguda | Moinabad |
| 8 | Nagireddiguda | Moinabad |
| 9 | Bakaramjagir | Moinabad |
| 10 | Andapur | Moinabad |
| 11 | Dargatdrula | Moinabad |
| 12 | Venkatpuram | Moinabad |
| 13 | Malkaram | Shamshabad |
| 14 | Kolbawatidoddi | Shamshabad |
| 15 | Sultanpalli | Shamshabad |
| 16 | Yacharam | Shamshabad |
| 17 | Rayangudda | Shamshabad |
| 18 | Chowdariguda | Shamshabad |
| 19 | Markhudda | Shamshabad |
| 20 | Amapelli | Shamshabad |
| 21 | Harrigudda | Shamshabad |
| 22 | Kotwalguda | Shamshabad |
| 23 | Shamshabad | Shamshabad |
| 24 | Kishanguda | Shamshabad |
| 25 | Ottapalli | Shamshabad |
| 26 | Tondapalli | Shamshabad |
| 27 | Devatabowli | Shamshabad |
| 28 | Talkatta | Shamshabad |
| 29 | Etbarpalli | Shamshabad |
| 30 | Makanpally | Shamshabad |
| 31 | Kattireddypally | Shamshabad |
| 32 | Yenkamadi | Shamshabad |
| 33 | Ramangipur | Shamshabad |
| 34 | Kevatriguda | Shamshabad |
| 35 | Mangipur | Shamshabad |
| 36 | Jukal | Shamshabad |
| 37 | Gandigudda | Shamshabad |
| 38 | Peddashapur | Shamshabad |
| 39 | Madanpally | Shamshabad |
| 40 | Palmakula | Shamshabad |
| 41 | Gangiraiguda | Shamshabad |
| 42 | Cherlaguda | Shamshabad |
| 43 | Hameedullanagar | Shamshabad |
| 44 | Osettiguda | Shamshabad |
| 45 | Gowlapallykand | Shamshabad |
| 46 | Rashidguda | Shamshabad |
| 47 | Syedguda | Shamshabad |
| 48 | Gollapallekalan | Shamshabad |
| 49 | Bahadurguda | Shamshabad |
| 50 | Golkondakhur | Shamshabad |
| 51 | Shakerpur | Shamshabad |
| 52 | Sangiguda | Shamshabad |
| 53 | Golkondakalan | Shamshabad |
| 54 | Sollipet | Shabad |
| 55 | Maddur | Shabad |
| 56 | Gudur | Kothur |
| 57 | Himayat Nagar | Moinabad |
| 58 | Chikkoor | Moinabad |
| 59 | Chanda Nagar | Moinabad |
| 60 | Medipally | Moinabad |
| 61 | Chinna Mangalaram | Moinabad |
| 62 | Mothukupally | Moinabad |
| 63 | Reddypally | Moinabad |
| 64 | Pedda Mangalaram | Moinabad |
| 65 | Khanpur | Rajendranagar |
| 66 | Gunugurthy | Rajendranagar |
| 67 | Vatti Nagulapally | Rajendranagar |
| 68 | Janwada | Shankerpally |
| 69 | Dhatampally | Shamshabad |
| 70 | Maharajpet | Shamshabad |
| 71 | Gopularam | Shamshabad |
| 72 | Poddutur | Shamshabad |
| 73 | Chinna Shapur | Shamshabad |
| 74 | Tol Matta | Shamshabad |
| 75 | Yenkapally | Chevella |
| 76 | Yerlapally | Chevella |
| 77 | Kanmeta | Chevella |
| 78 | Gollapally | Chevella |
| 79 | Raviapally | Chevella |
| 80 | Mudimyal | Chevella |
| 81 | Mumera | Rajendranagar |
| 82 | Malakpur | Rajendranagar |
| 83 | Tankutur | Shankarpally |
| 84 | Bulkapur | Shankarpally |
If you plan to buy or develop land inside these villages, check the exact survey number and HMDA zoning. General village names may not show small exclusions or grandfathered plots.
Modern water projects and why the lakes still matter
Hyderabad now gets large volumes of water from Kaleshwaram, and river sources on Krishna and Godavari via pipelines and ring mains. That shift reduced the city’s direct dependence on the two lakes for day-to-day drinking water. Still, the lakes provide two key public goods:
- Flood control: they act as buffers during heavy rains and reduce peak flows into the city. Hyderabad’s floods in recent years showed the value of storage and buffer lands.
- Local climate: open water and green zones cool surrounding areas and improve wind patterns. Loss of water bodies can raise urban heat and reduce wind circulation.
So even when supply needs shift, the lakes remain part of Hyderabad’s urban safety and microclimate.
Pros and cons — a balanced view
Pros of GO 111
- Protects drinking water sources and reduces pollution risk.
- Preserves flood buffers and lowers risk from heavy rains.
- Keeps large green, agricultural, and open areas close to the city, which helps the local climate.
Cons of GO 111
- Limits development and slows job creation in the 84 villages.
- Suppresses short-term land value increases for local owners.
- Can create local anger if villagers feel they miss out on city growth.
The right approach tries to protect core environmental functions while allowing low-impact, regulated local development that benefits villages without harming the lakes.
Repeal attempts, GO 69, PILs and court action
In 2022–23 the state issued GO 69, which removed parts of GO 111 and opened the area to wider development. The government argued Hyderabad no longer depended on the twin lakes. That move triggered strong pushback. Environmental groups, scientists, and residents filed PILs and reports arguing GO 69 lacked scientific clarity and could harm water and climate. Courts took notice and the repeal faced holds and conditions. Officials told courts they would await expert committee reports and not grant major permissions until rules and master plans were ready.
Current legal status can change quickly. Before any land transaction or construction approval, check the latest High Court and NGT orders and HMDA filings.
Voices from environmentalists and experts
Prominent conservationists argued the repeal risks long-term harm:
Some experts called KCR’s “redundant” framing of the lakes misleading, noting that lakes help with floods and local cooling.
Groups pointed to the precautionary principle used by courts in past cases: if development risks serious harm, authorities must avoid or limit activity until safe plans exist.
We have reviewed river basin plans in several cities. Removing buffer rules without strong technical safeguards, sewage treatment, clear drainage maps, and enforceable zoning often leads to pollution, and later expensive restoration.
What a careful revision should require — an expert checklist
If authorities change GO 111, they should only do that after these steps:
- NGT and High Court clearance or binding judgement.
- A published special master plan for the whole 1.32 lakh acres, approved by HMDA and environment bodies.
- Sewage and drainage guarantees: ring mains, STPs, master sewer plans so no raw sewage reaches the lakes.
- Low-density zoning near reservoirs (buffer strips where construction is minimal).
- Enforceable polluter rules and an independent monitoring body.
- Compensation and development support for affected villages—education, roads, and non-polluting jobs.
- Phased implementation: pilot areas first, clear monitoring results, then wider change.
- These measures reduce the chance that repeal simply opens the area to unplanned concreting and pollution.
Impact on real estate and practical advice for buyers and owners
If you own or plan to buy land in these 84 villages, do this:
- Check the exact survey number and current HMDA status. Village names alone are not enough.
- Confirm court orders and committee reports. If a PIL is pending, approvals may stall.
- Ask for master plan documents and sewage/drainage commitments before investing.
- Prefer low-risk investments: agriculture, horticulture, green farms, or small residential plots with clear permissions.
- Keep long records: communication with revenue, HMDA, and municipal departments helps if rules change.
Expert tip: Small developers often lose money when rules change mid-project. Insist on bankable approvals and NOC copies before signing.
Timeline — short quick view
| Year | Event |
| 1996 | GO 111 issued to protect catchment areas |
| 2019 | Lakes used as emergency sources during shortages |
| 2022–23 | State issued GO 69 to lift some restrictions; public protests and PILs followed |
| 2023–24 | Courts and committees put holds; HMDA and experts studied master plans |
FAQs
Q: What is GO 111?
A: A 1996 order restricting heavy and polluting development within 10 km of Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar.
Q: Which lakes does it protect?
A: Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar.
Q: How many villages fall under it?
A: Around 84 villages across multiple mandals.
Q: Can I build a house inside the zone?
A: Only in marked residential areas with strict open-space and planning norms.
Q: Why did the government try to repeal it?
A: They claimed Hyderabad’s water now comes from river projects, making rules less critical.
Q: Is the repeal final?
A: No, courts have stayed changes through ongoing cases.
Q: Do these lakes still help with floods?
A: Yes, they act as buffers and lower peak city flood levels.
Q: Will land prices drop if GO 111 continues?
A: Rules slow rapid price jumps, though long-term values depend on policies.
Q: What is GO 69?
A: An order easing parts of GO 111 to allow wider development, sparking protests and cases.
Q: What should buyers verify before investing?
A: Check survey numbers, zoning, NOCs, and pending litigations with authorities.
Q: Can courts restore GO 111?
A: Yes, they can enforce its safeguards or block repeal until proper plans exist.
Q: Do environmentalists reject all changes?
A: Most seek stricter safeguards, sewage control, and planned buffers—not a blanket ban.
Q: Will HMDA prepare a master plan?
A: HMDA proposed green-city plans, but approvals await court and expert review.
Q: Can farming continue inside the zone?
A: Yes, agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture are encouraged as low-impact uses.
Q: Who enforces these rules?
A: HMDA, municipal bodies, courts, and environmental panels monitor and act.