Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar

Why in news?

• Environmentalists and activists are criticizing the Telangana government for withdrawing a Government Order (GO) 111 protecting the historic Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs in Hyderabad.

More about the news:

• In 1996, the Government of erstwhile (undivided) Andhra Pradesh issued GO 111 prohibiting development or construction works in the catchment area of the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar lakes up to a radius of 10 km.
• The GO prohibited the setting up of industries, residential colonies, and hotels among others which cause pollution.
• The aim of the restrictions was to protect the catchment area and to keep reservoirs pollution-free.
  • The lakes had been supplying water to Hyderabad for nearly 70 years and were the main source of drinking water for the city at the time.

About Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar:

• Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar were built in 1920 and 1927, respectively, under the last Nizam-era ruler Mir Osman Ali Khan, after the devastating 1908 floods in Hyderabad.
• The reservoirs were created by building dams on the River Musi (Musi is also known as Moosa or Muchkunda and is a major tributary of the Krishna River).

Add ons:

• The Murugavani National Park between the twin reservoirs and the entire area acts as a heat absorption unit for the city and if that is allowed to get concretized, the city would become a furnace.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements:

1. Osman Sagar reservoir is created by building dams on the River Musi

2. Himayat Sagar were built in 1927 under the last Nizam-era ruler Mir Osman Ali Khan

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer