Legislature buildings in Hyderabad sorely need repairs

Hyderabad: They are part of Hyderabad’s architectural splendour and the seats of power. But long neglect of the 103-year-old Nizam-era Town Hall that hosts the Legislative Assembly and the adjacent Jubilee Hall that houses the Legislative Council, is a serious cause for concern.

The Legislature session is on and security is impregnable. However, there is also the grim spectacle of peeled, damaged walls, damaged pillars, dirty roofs, dangling wires, dusty windows, dust-filled, blackened chandeliers, worn out window sun films, dirty sheds, terrace covers full of dry leaves and dirt.
The roads and buildings department maintains the buildings, for which Rs 2 crore is given annually.

“You see the roof. They laid a tar carpet to prevent water leakage. The maintenance is bad though there is huge staff and no dearth of funds. They focus on the ministers’ chambers, not on the outside structures,” an official lamented.
 Another official was satisfied with the contention that the building structures are strong and there was no threat to their safety, whatsoever.  

While the interiors of the Council and the Assembly, the chambers of the Speaker and Chairman, the offices of the Chief Minister and the ministers as also the rooms of the CMO officials are well-maintained, the sight of the building as such is awful.

At the entrance to the Council, there are two blackened, once-beautiful marble statues fighting dust. Adjacent are two damaged pillars and a dirty junction box. Two beautiful statues are turning black here, and bird droppings can be seen on the seat of coronation of the Nizam. There are loose wires, AC boxes, despoiling the beauty of the once-awesome palace.

Jubilee Hall, a royal palace built in 1913 by Nizam VII Mir Osman Ali Khan, is an architectural masterpiece. It’s located in the sprawling green lawns of the Public Garden. Bagh-e-Aam. The silver jubilee coronation of Nizam was held here in 1937, and hence the name.

On the grand occasion, the Nizam reportedly received gifts and mementos together valued (then) at $1,000,000.

The royal works and paintings from the Durbar Hall still adorn the building. The elegant building in Indo-Persian style has a small but high stage in the centre for the throne of Nizam in the shape of ‘Dastar’ (Crown) of the Nizam.

On bifurcation of the state, the old Legislative Council building and the old Assembly hall (a heritage structure) were allocated to the AP Legislature. Not in use, they are under lock and key of the AP government.

The huge rectangular hall of the Jubilee Hall served as the state’s Legislative Council for 27 years, before the Telangana Council moved to its present building where state functions and banquets were held. Grills and other fixtures were set up in a visually unpleasant manner, as they do not blend well with the architecture of the buildings.

The imposing Assembly building, completed in 1913, was the Town Hall in the Old Hyderabad State. The citizens of Hyderabad raised money to build it to mark the 40th birthday of Nizam Mahboob Ali Khan in 1905. This architectural design was done by specially-commissioned architects from Rajasthan.

The Nizam had been impressed by the beautiful palaces there, and called these men in. This blend of Rajasthani and Persian architecture gave a special charm to the buildings which housed the erstwhile 295-seat AP Assembly.

New buildings have been added for the Assembly complex to accommodate the legislative offices of ministers and political parties. M Channa Reddy, then Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, laid the foundation stone on March 19, 1980, and the works were completed during the tenure of Speaker G. Narayana Rao.

Then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi inaugurated it on August 3, 1985. A 22-foot tall, Rs 55 lakh bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi was installed later; on August 15, 1998.

Wanton neglect: Kishan
BJP floor leader in the Assembly G. Kishan Reddy has expressed anguish over the poor maintenance of the Assembly and Council buildings. “The old Assembly building is a heritage structure. You can see the dirty windows, roofs, damaged walls and dangling wires. This is nothing but wanton destruction of the heritage structures. There is absolutely no shortage of funds or staff. This is criminal neglect,” he felt.

Showing the dusty windows and the pathway arch at the entrance to the assembly buildings that are covered with leaves, he said staff shortage is not an issue. “What’s shocking is the exteriors are not cleaned even when the assembly and legislative council are in session. We are law- makers, but we sit in the dirty premises. The R and B Department should clean the premises and undertake necessary repairs,” he told Deccan Chronicle.

A TRS MLA said, “It’s badly maintained. I agree. I will bring it to the notice of the authorities.”