Activists flag concerns after GHMC razes Sarai

Hyderabad: Locals and heritage activists raised concerns after Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) demolished part of Amberpet Sarai, a rest house which was constructed for travellers during the Qutub Shahi period. The

Sarai

was built keeping in view the needs of travellers to the city.

Mohammed Majid, a resident of Amberpet said, “It is very sad that heritage structures in the city are being neglected to such an extent. The structure has been standing here since ages. They cannot destroy heritage in the name of development. We would have never allowed them to raze the structure if we knew from before that they were going to do this.”

Heritage activists in the city said that these structures stand as examples to the people of the friendly policies of the then-rulers and the government must protect them for the future generations. “I was told that the GHMC has demolished the Sarai for road widening. On one side they are claiming that they want to protect all the heritage structures in the city and on the other side they are demolishing these structures in the name of development. It has come to my notice that a cheque of Rs 5 crore was given to Waqf board as compensation for demolition of these structures,” said Anuradha Reddy, city convener, INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage).

“Amberpet Sarai was built along with Ashoorkhana and the Jama Masjid in the Qutub Shahi period,” said Anuradha.

While GHMC officials have agreed to demolish the structure for road widening, they said that the Sarai is not a notified heritage structure, and all necessary permissions were acquired from the Waqf board before razing the structure. “It is not a notified heritage structure. It is a Waqf board property and they have given us the consent after receiving a compensation check. I do not remember the compensation amount, but the due process has been followed,” said B Narsing Rao, assistant city planner, Secunderabad Zone.

“In total, we have identified 281 properties on both sides of the road out of which nearly 270 properties have been demolished in the last one-and-half year by paying total compensation to the affected persons,” Rao added. However, when contacted, Waqf board chairman Mohammed Saleem said, “I have to check if it is a notified structure or not. Will not be able to comment anything about it now.”


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