Hyderabad: Bansilalpet Step Well Restoration Sparks Controversy

Hyderabad: The wooden sign reading ‘Bansilalpet’, affixed to the entrance arch of the historic Bansilalpet step well, fell down on Sunday, revealing underlying issues with the restoration process. The incident, which also caused a portion of the arch's plaster to come off, has sparked concerns about the quality of the recent renovation and questions of who was responsible for maintaining the structure.

Locals told Deccan Chronicle that the sign had fallen in May when a lorry struck it. The sign is now in the possession of a nearby chicken shopowner, who claims ownership of the land on which the arch stands.

The land originally belonged to Seth Bansilal who donated it to the then British Resident R.H. Keyes in the 1930s for development of a model village around the step well. The Bansilalpet Trust was formed later and was probably leasing out some portion of the land — there are no records to show this — but for the past few decades has not taken any rent from the locals.

The locals now consider the land as their own and have built shops over it. "The land belongs to the Bansilalpet Trust, but no one has asked for rent or dues for decades," the shopowner said.

Over the years, in the Trust's absence, locals have taken over the land, set up shops and built homes. Although the GHMC and HMDA, with private funding, undertook the step well's restoration in 2021, the question of who is responsible for its maintenance remains unresolved.

“GHMC needs to appoint traffic vigilance guards at heritage structures to prevent damage,” said Mir Khan, founder of Deccan Heritage Terrain which is involved in the restoration.

Concerns have been raised about the restoration process itself. The grayish coating revealed on the arch after the sign fell has led to doubts about whether traditional lime mortar was used or if it was substituted with cement. While Khan assured that the structure was "restored" to its original form, photographs of the step well before the restoration appear to show discrepancies.

For instance, the letters "Bansilalpet" which were originally engraved on the wall were not restored but replaced with a sign board that has now fallen.

Khan responded by saying that the original engraved letters were cemented over and had sunk, and that it was the officials’ choice to opt for a wooden board. He said the GHMC must issue tenders for repairs. Asked about it, the local GHMC assistant executive engineer passed the ball to the HMDA, adding that it had been notified and that repairs would occur within two days.

However, HMDA was only responsible for the first year after restoration, leaving future maintenance uncertain.

Anuradha Reddy, convener of Intach (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) at Hyderabad, emphasised the need for expert consultation and peer review in restoration projects. She called for transparency, insisting that all aspects of the restoration, including funding, materials, and methods, be documented and made public. "Reconstruction is not restoration," Reddy stressed.