Hyderabad Heritage & Heritage Structures

[Gudavalli]

Save Charminar, save city's identity

When some 400 years ago QutbShahi romantic poet king Mohammad Quli dreamt of building a new city about 15 km from his decaying Golconda he discussed his plan with prime minister Mir Momin. Working vigorously with a team of planners, designers and artisans from India, Iran and Iraq Mir Momin presented the idea of Charminar as the centerpiece of the new city of lakes, gardens, palaces, public utility buildings and business centres. The dream became a reality in 1591 and since then the monument has remained irreplaceable in the heart of every Hyderabadi, nay, every beholder.

Though the iconic Charminar has suffered natural calamities in the past it recovery was fast, thanks to the love and care showered on it by the then rulers, administrators and people of Hyderabad. The same Charminar is facing the most acute crisis of its life-its very existence is threatened.

A random study of Charminar and its surroundings reveals the nature and magnitude of problems that beset the monument. The biggest issue is that of monumental neglect. The upkeep of the Charminar is ill planned, irregular and insufficient.

All experts agree that to save Charminar, the entire Charminar precinct has to be saved. This was first revealed in a Ford Foundation study that became public in 1985. It took 13 years for the government to act on that report and come up with the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project in 1998. Another two years were wasted in launching the project with great fanfare. Since then the CPP is on oxygen. It is neither allowed to die nor live.

In the meantime, the condition of Charminar and the situation in the area around it is deteriorating with every passing day. For instance, the absence of traffic management in the area is stark. The occasional traffic cop there looks like a mute spectator with boredom writ large on his face.

The chaotic traffic conditions worsen as one starts moving from Afzal Gunj towards Charminar. RTC buses compete with the auto-rickshaws in breaking the traffic rules. The thela-bandi walas and other petty traders add to the bedlam by putting up their business on the road.

The GHMC has abandoned the area as well. There is an obvious competition between the traffic cops and the GHMC staff on who should be making more money by allowing the chaos on the roads and illegal trade on main thoroughfares.

It is sheer anarchy as one inches past Madina Building Junction towards Gulzar Hauz and finally Charminar. The disorder remains in full form whether one goes toward Mecca Masjid or Laad Bazaar or Kotla Aalijah.

There are complaints galore from the residents, shop owners and the commuters. They say there is no plan to decongest the area, regulate the traffic and manage hawkers and other petty traders.

According to conservation activist architect G V Suryanaryana Murthy, if decadence of Charminar has to be checked, at least 9 square km area around it should be protected as the first step. Beginning from Nayapul in the north, the area should cover the stretch up to Aliabad Sarai or Falaknuma in the south. In the east the protection should cover area up to Dabeerpura and its surroundings and in the west, the conservation plan should envelope Purana Pul Darwaza and the bridge.

It is obvious that there is no government in the Charminar precinct. That is the reason why religious leaders, politicians, property owners, real estate players and even the government officials do not hesitate in breaking the rules that would ultimately pose threat to the existence of Charminar.

If Charminar has to be saved, chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy has to personally demonstrate through his actions that he would not tolerate the destruction of the monument and the surrounding precinct. Otherwise, the violators of law would soon bring down the proud symbol of Hyderabad with impunity.

[Gudavalli]

Hyderabad’s heritage to get a face-lift

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) has finally decided to give financial assistance to notified privately owned heritage buildings, and heritage activists in the city couldn’t be happier. However, they say that this is just the tip of the iceberg and that there was much more needs to be done.

GHMC’s standing committee meeting on 18 April decided to provide a 75 per cent property tax waiver for privately owned heritage buildings that are listed. Also, a reimbursement of part of the expenditure incurred in taking up renovations will be provided – either 20 per cent of the cost or Rs 25 lakh; whichever is minimum.

Among the jubilant is Anuradha Reddy, Hyderabad convenor, Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). However, there is a ‘but’.

“It is a recognition to the efforts of the owners of the notified buildings in conserving the heritage of the city. But it would be great if it is extended to non-notified privately owned heritage buildings. The waiver should have also been 100 per cent and not just 75.”

According to her, a proper survey across the city would prove that 100’s of non-notified privately owned heritage buildings are in grave need of financial aid. “Authorities must first ensure that heritage buildings are not de-notified and demolished, as was the instance with the Bajara Bhavan and the Montgomery Hotel building in the city,” she added.

M Vedakumar, President, Forum for a Better Hyderabad (FBH), felt that the government should also consider conservation and active usage of heritage buildings that are owned by them.

“INTACH and FBH have submitted a report to the Heritage Conservation Committee after studying conservation in cities like Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi. Buildings like Mahboob mansion, Secunderabad old jail, Nampally sarai, the pension office near Charminar and the old municipal head office in Darulshifa are some of the government owned buildings in utmost need,” he said. He further pointed out that priority should be given not only to the Grade 1 buildings but also for those in grave threat of dilapidation.

Meanwhile, GHMC officials maintained that the assistance includes no advance payment and the owner will have to register with the GHMC’s Heritage cell and enter into an agreement admitting to maintain the building once restored and put to active use in future.

“The financial assistance will not include expenditure incurred on overhead expenses, conservation of movable objects or consultancy fee of the architect. Owners will have to submit project report including drawings with details, methodology, materials for renovation/conservation and phase-wise program with realistic time line so that the Heritage Cell can track its progress. Owners will also have to submit a visual documentation of the renovation work while an impanelled conservation architect of GHMC will certify the work done and expenditure incurred by owners,” said officials.

They also mentioned that owners will have to obtain a no-objection certificate from the Heritage Conservation Committee of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Association before renovation begins.

There are currently 168 notified heritage buildings in the city and about 60 per cent of them are privately owned.

[Gudavalli]

Aga Khan Trust for Culture waiting to kick off facelift work at tombs

HYDERABAD: Representatives of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) on Thursday said they intend to begin restoration of the Quli Qutub Shah Tombs (QQST) complex beginning with the now dilapidated Badi Bowli.

At a time when the QQST finds itself mired in litigation and controversy, civil society activists organised a meeting with AKTC officials as well as petitioners of the Wakf Tribunal at the tombs to find a solution to the impasse.

It was earlier reported in these columns that the wakf survey commissioner's office had declared the Quli Qutub Shah Development Authority (QQSUDA) as an encroacher of 22 acres of prime wakf land.

The office further added that the QQSUDA had failed to take permission from the AP State Wakf Board and the department of archaeology and museums (DAM) for constructing the Deccan Park. It was in 1977 that Mukarram Jah Bahadur, grandson of last Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, had entered into an agreement with DAM and had made its director the guardian of the QQST complex for its maintenance and upkeep.

While the plaintiffs refused to attend the meeting, AKTC project director Ratish Nanda said they had prayed to the court to implead them in the case, so they could explain their scope of work. "We will have a fulltime exhibition to explain work to the public and will start with Badi Bowli as it is collapsing. We will also have an interpretation centre," Nanda said. While cordoning off work areas remain essential, activists are welcome to inspect the site, he added.

While the MoU along with the Deccan Park land parcel remains the bone of contention in the tribunal, AKTC officials said they planned to integrate the park with the main site and move the QQST entrance to the park. "We have used the same MoU in Delhi and there was no problem there," Nanda said.

While the Wakf Tribunal had ordered a stay on the work on January 22, Nanda said that it was only in March that the AKTC was informed about it. "We got ourselves impleaded so that we could explain to the court what this project is all about and what we intend to do here. It is a 10-year (restoration) project because it will take that sort of time," Nanda said.

While government records reflect the extent of land of the QQST complex at 103 acres and 30 guntas, AKTC officials said that they have recorded 106 acres.

There will be no tender system and a labour camp will also be needed. No cement would be used at the site except for pathways. "There is tile work on many structures. We will go to Iran for getting tiles," Nanda said.

[thomasdesk]

I really din't know all that amazed to read all that.

[Gudavalli]

City heritage buildings cry for protection

The state government seems to be least bothered about putting in place a regulation for protection of notified heritage buildings, areas and rock precincts in and around Greater Hyderabad. With nearly two months elapsing, the municipal administration and urban development (MAUD) department has failed to reconstitute the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC) under Regulation 13(2) of Zoning Regulations, 1981, giving scope for demolition or damage of notified heritage buildings and rock formations in the city.

There are over 166 notified heritage buildings and 20-odd rock precincts in the Hyderabad metropolitan area. On March 17, 2010 the municipal administration department issued orders reconstituting the Heritage Conservation Committee with nine members for a period of three years.

Though the term lapsed in March, the government failed to constitute a fresh committee, giving ample scope to owners of the heritage buildings to demolish the structures. The HCC works in collaboration with the Indian National Trust For Art And Cultural Heritage (INTACH) in order to conserve ancient buildings of historical significance in and around the Hyderabad city.

As there are so many cases of encroachments and illegal constructions in and around the centrally protected monuments and in the light of the Ancient Monument and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amended and Validation) Act, 2010, stringent measures need to be taken against encroachers, involving all the stakeholders.

Speaking to Express, HMDA officials admitted that the term of the HCC ended in March and, as per the rules, a new panel should have been reconstituted in March itself, and said they will bring to the notice of the government the need to reconstitute the HCC at the earliest. INTACH Greater Hyderabad chapter convener Anuradha Reddy wonders who will take care of the safety of heritage buildings in the absence of HCC.

“If some notified heritage building is demolished by a owner for commercial gains, who should one complain to? The state government seems to least bothered to reconstitute the HCC. There should be a strong political will to protect heritage buildings,’’ she says.

[Gudavalli]

Breathing life into Hyderabad’s Qutb Shahi tombs

After many a hiccup, the Agha Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) finally commenced restoration work at the historic Qutb Shahi tombs here on Saturday.

This follows permission given by the Wakf Tribunal to take up repair of the ‘Badi Bouli’ at the entrance to the tomb complex pending final decision on the case. After two days of hearing, the Tribunal gave the go-ahead to the Department of Archaeology and Museums on Friday to carry out repairs of the step-well which has collapsed on one side.

Experts visit tombs

A multi-disciplinary team of the AKTC, comprising conservation archaeologists, engineers and landscape architects, visited the Qutb Shahi tombs on Saturday morning and cleared debris in and around the well. The work will start in right earnest on Sunday, with specialised artisans preparing lime-mortar comprising jaggery, sand, fruit pulp and stone aggregates.

The AKTC team, however, had to face a shower of abuses from some opponents. But it is nothing new for the agency executing projects in 30 countries.

“Initially, there was suspicion and vested interests are in play. But we will overcome that,” said Ratish Nanda, project director, AKTC.

Interestingly, AKTC is the only agency in India taking up conservation work on ASI protected monuments.

It plans to replicate the good work done by it in Delhi at Humayun Tomb and 50 monuments around it. “We adopt the traditional Indian approach to conservation everywhere,” said Mr. Nanda.

He made it clear that the Qutb Shahi tomb complex was not handed over to the AKTC but remained in the control of the Department of Archaeology. “It is a public-private partnership not for profit,” he added.

Dorabji Tata Trust

The partnership has been further strengthened, with the Dorabji Tata Trust evincing interest in the project. It will be providing co-funding to the conservation work estimated to cost Rs. 100 crore.

The Qutb Shahi Tombs are one of the most important Islamic heritage sites in India comparable to the Taj Mahal. Nowhere in the world are 70 monuments at one place representing an entire dynasty, which ruled for 170 years. “If properly protected, it is capable of drawing huge number of visitors,” Mr. Nanda felt.

Urgent repair needed

All monuments are in urgent need of repair, with vegetal growth, cracks and vandalism taking a heavy toll. The dome of the Jamsheed Quli tomb runs the risk of caving in as the wooden beam used in it has chipped away in many places.

The lime mortar material will be used to bring back the original sheen.

The AKTC is here for a long haul. It will take 10 long years to complete the restoration work. “But once it is through, the site will be safe for another 400 years,” said Mr. Nanda.