Tiger hunter breaks down over palace
Mr Shafath Ali Khan said that it was not true that the palace was dilapidated.
Hyderabad: Mr Shafat Ali Khan, who is called to hunt man-eaters, broke down at a media conference on Wednesday while speaking about the possible demolition of the family's ancestral palace, Errum Manzil, to construct the new Assembly building.
The descendants of Fakhrul Mulk said that they have no intention to confront government and would not challenge the decision to demolish the palace in court. They were simply appealing with folded hands to Chief Minister K. Chandresekhar Rao to drop the idea of demolishing Errum Manzil. They said that they were not against the construction of a new Assembly building at Errum Manzil, but government can build the new structures around the heritage building which can be used to receive foreign dignitaries on par with Hyderabad House where the Government of India hosts international leaders.
Mr Shafath Ali Khan said that it was not true that the palace was dilapidated. Even now its structural strength is stable like Charminar, Makkah Masjid and the Unani hospital. He apprehends that the palace will be demolished, based on the report of structural engineers.
He said that it was acquired in 1934 and family members got compensation of Rs 15 lakh. We are not raising our voice to protect this heritage palace as it belonged to our ancestor, but because is a palace of Hyderabad people. There is a case in the court pertaining to the land and government can construct the new Assembly building there after negotiating with the litigants.
Begum Fatima Shahnaz said that the palace is a symbol of Hyderabadi culture, where a pond was built for Holi and a Christmas tree was existed. In earlier days, people of Hyderabad celebrated Eid, Holi, Christmas and Navroz festivals. The palace was used for royal banquets and other grand events. Viceroys and Governor Generals were received here. She said that Fakhrul Mulk was a great philanthropist who gifted the Nizam College building and land to open an educational institution when he constructed Errum Manzil.
Dr. Lubna Sarwat, state general secretary, Socialist Party (India) said that Errum Manzil was enlisted as a heritage structure in the B2 category in G.O. Ms. No. 363 of 2010, but the KCR government came out with an act called the Telangana Heritage (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Maintenance) Act in 2017, in which the Errum Manzil was delisted. She said that government had no right to delist any heritage building without following the due course prescribed in the said GO.
Dr. Lubna said that she had filed a case challenging the move of government to demolish the Errum Manzil for a new Assembly and Secretariat. She said that government was going to spend about `500 crores on two buildings. She asked whether government has carried out a cost benefit analysis and impact assessment study before going ahead. She said that in these projects, huge public money is involved and the Chief Minister should not take unilateral decisions.