Telangana State to drop Golconda Fort as venue
Permission problems force state to look for other options
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2014-09-12 02:57 GMT
Hyderabad: The Telangana government seems to have abandoned plans to make Golc-onda Fort the permanent venue to hold Independence Day celebrations. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao unfurled the national flag at Golconda Fort as part of the first Independence Day celebrations in Telangana last month.
The government has now asked the revenue department to identify suitable land for building a permanent venue to conduct national festivals apart from state festivals indicating that Golconda Fort would not be the permanent venue.
Revenue officials have identified 40 acres each in Rajendranagar and Serilingampally mandals for the purpose. Official sources in the revenue department said the proposals were sent to Mr Rao for approval.
The difficulty in securing permission from Archaeological Survey of India to hold I-Day celebrations at Golconda Fort every year is said to be the reason for the government looking at other options.
ASI officials had made it clear that the permission to hold I-Day celebrations at Golconda Fort was only for 2014 and it was a one-off permission. “The Golconda Fort has not been given as a permanent venue for I-Day celebrations to the TS government. The permission was only for August 15, 2014,” said R. Krishnaiah, ASI superintendent, Hyderabad circle.
Though I-Day celebrations at Golconda Fort were a huge success, the government machinery faced several logistic issues in making arrangements for its smooth conduct. The government also faced several problems, with the Army refusing to allow celebrations, claiming that the 51 acre land, where the event was planned, belonged to the defence ministry.
Finally, the government could secure the nod from ASI and the Army with much difficulty. Moreover, Mr Rao’s grand plans to display tableaux highlighting Telangana culture were also abandoned as the ASI refused to allow large trucks inside the fort. The narrow roads near the fort and uneven ground inside did not allow the government even to display tableaux in mid-sized vehicles.
All these issues forced the government to rethink on continuing Golconda Fort and opt for a fresh venue from next year. In the undivided state, the I-Day and Republic Day celebrations were held at Parade Grounds, Secunderabad.
However, KCR who shifted the I-Day venue to Golconda is said to be not in favour of going back to Parade Grounds belonging to the defence ministry and is keen on having the TS government’s own Parade Grounds as a permanent venue to conduct national festivals and state festivals.
The undivided AP Formation Day celebrations used to be held in NTR Stadium near Indira Park on November 1 every year and Mr Rao is said to averse to holding TS Formation Day celebrations at the same venue on June 2 next year. He is of the firm opinion that a new permanent venue will resolve all these issue, once it is developed at the earliest.