The KCR government has removed 84 villages from Government Order 111. This has been done in view of the fact that the drinking water needs of Hyderabad are not hinged on the two famous reservoirs: Osmansagar and Himayatsagar.

The GO, in the assessment of the government, is not relevant any longer in view of the developments on the water supply front in recent years. The government doesn't want the quality of water in the reservoirs to be affected in any manner while doing away with the restrictions.

What will be the immediate impact of the decision? Business Line says that area up 1.32 lakh acres of land will now be available for development. This includes as many as half a century of villages near the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad.

Drinking water capacity in Hyderabad:

Total installed capacity in 1996: 145 million gallons a day

Total installed capacity today: 602 million gallons a day

Total installed capacity under execution: Additional 344 million gallons a day