Bumbling on from one faux pas to another

By J.S.Ifthekhar

HYDERABAD, AUG. 7. Once bitten twice shy. This can be true in anyone else's case, but not the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH). The civic body loves to err and err unabashedly. For its recent faux pas in pulling down part of the Chowmohalla Palace, a listed heritage building, the Corporation has drawn severe strictures from the Heritage Conservation Committee. The MCH has been asked to "restore" the old position of the palace.

The 14-member Committee, which met here on Tuesday, took serious note of the dismantling of the small portion of the structure abutting the compound wall of the Palace on Khilwat road in the old city. The MCH action has evoked sharp reaction from several quarters. Even the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, couldn't help expressing his displeasure.

The Heritage Committee, which is constituted by the HUDA to keep a watch on heritage buildings, asked the MCH to explain its action. Syed Omer Jaleel, Officer on Special Duty, Charminar Pedestrianisation Project, made a presentation on the ongoing road widening programme in the old city with the help of slides. The Committee also took into account the report given by Mr. S.P. Shorey, OSD, who earlier inspected the demolished portion.

The Committee members are unanimous in their view that the structure demolished is part of the Chowmohalla Palace. They are stated to be upset that the MCH had gone ahead and dismantled the hoary structure without even consulting them. Under the amended Rule 13 of the A.P. Urban Development Act, no one - neither the Government nor a private owner, can tamper with a heritage building without the prior permission of the Heritage Committee. Even the colour combination of a heritage structure cannot be changed without the permission of the Committee. What surprised the Committee is the casual way the MCH treated the Chowmohalla Palace which the Government is planning to showcase as a tourist spot.

Worried about the possible threat to other heritage structures, the Committee has asked the MCH not to "tinker with" any such edifice without first consulting it. "We will forward our views to the HUDA which in turn will write to the Corporation to restore the demolished portion", Mr. Shravan Kumar, former Chief Secretary and Chairman, Heritage Conservation Committee, told The Hindu.

This is not the first time that the MCH has acted brazenly with regard to heritage buildings. It raised the hackles of conservationists when the compound wall of the St. Georges Church at Abids was pulled down two years ago as part of the road widening programme. Then also the Heritage Committee had to step in and direct the Corporation to restore the compound wall.

The MCH contention is that the demolished portion is outside the Chowmohalla palace and its removal is necessary to save the compound wall of the place. But under the law even compound wall and open area form part of heritage precincts and nothing can be touched without the permission of the Heritage Committee.

Will the MCH keep its hands off heritage buildings - at least now?

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