Historic arches cry for better upkeep
Stagnant rainwater further damaged the arches
By : DC Correspondent
Update: 2015-10-19 05:27 GMT
Hyderabad: Landmark structures like Kaman-e-Shaik Faiz and Kaman-e-Shoukat Jung Devdi, located at a stone’s throw from the Bibi-ka-Alawa in Dabeerpura area, are in a neglected state.
Hundreds of people pass below the arches daily, but repeated pleas haven't resulted in their much-needed upkeep.
Official apathy has left these 300-year-old structures in a dilapidated state, said Mohammed Baqi Abul Hassan Khan, who filed an RTI with Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation demanding information about the renovation works that are planned to protect these popular arches.
Hassan Khan has also approached various government departments -- from state archaeology department to GHMC -- to get the heritage structures renovated, but his efforts have been in vain.
Stagnant rain water damaged the arches and there has been the growth of weeds. Rain water adds to the problem of cracks, and the rifts too have widened on the roof of the Kaman.
“The archaeology department shifted the blame onto GHMC, saying heritage structures do not fall under the department’s purview. GHMC took the stand that there is no plan yet for renovation or preservation works,” rued Mr Hassan Khan.
“If it is so, let there be a plan at least now,” he said. The two arches (Kaman) are heritage structures, but are still open to traffic. Strong sentiments are attached to these arches. The historic Juloos (procession) of Bibi-Ka-Alam passes below these arches.
“These structures deserve to be added to the list of important monuments of the city. However, the callousness of officials is such that these structures might not stand the test of time,” he added.