HYDERABAD: Those who live near Peeran Cheruvu have been having a noisy week with rocks around the Cheruvu being blasted for construction work.
Nature-lovers are alarmed at the work being carried out and its impact on the serenity of the region. They say that the area is a biodiversity hub frequented by several winged creatures, including peacocks, from the Mrigavani National Park.
In 2016, several rock formations in the area were blasted and many rocks were left chipped. This year, the work has moved closer to the Peeran Shah Wali Dargah, and locals fear that the structure may suffer damage.
Diyanat Ali, the founding director of the Greater Hyderabad Adventure Club, says, “Last year, they targeted rocks a little farther from the dargah; now they are blasting the cluster close to it. We are afraid because it is common practice to begin with smaller rocks and then target larger ones.”
The rock formation was accorded heritage status by the government through an order issued in February 2009.
It was supposed to be protected under the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority Zoning Regulations.
“When construction of the metro stations began, the rock clusters were stripped of their heritage status. Many rock lovers approached the court and obtained a stay on the order,” says Diyanat.
“However, despite the stay, illegal activities continue to be carried out. People do not know that the destruction of rock formations is irreversible. Geologists say that these rocks were formed nearly 2,500 million years ago,” added Diyanat.
The blasts are being carried out by a private company that has constructed a residential colony in the area because it wants to create more space for the residents of the colony. Officials from the company say that since the rock formation is no longer a heritage structure, they have been granted permission to conduct blasts.
Workers have been reminded that a 100-foot buffer zone must be maintained around the dargah as mentioned in the Government Order of 2009, or else the work will be treated as an illegal encroachment on the property and a case will be filed against the company.
Despite local residents’ repeated pleas, the rock blasting continues late into the night.
Although the police have recorded their complaints and conducted inspections, residents are irked by the authorities’ inaction.
