Glitzy structure near Charminar threatens to jeopardise Hyderabad's chances
— Photo: G. RAMAKRISHNA
At odds: The glitzy shopping complex looks out of sync with the heritage ambience of the area near Charminar in Hyderabad.
HYDERABAD: A glitzy-looking shopping complex near Charminar threatens to jeopardise the ‘world heritage site' tag Hyderabad is trying to get. The structure sporting a jazzy alucobond — a decorative aluminium panel on the exterior — doesn't gel with the heritage ambience of the area and authorities fear that this might come in the way of the city bagging the coveted award.
A worried administration has gone into an overdrive trying to persuade the complex owner to change the building elevation giving it a heritage look. The flashy appearance is considered an ‘eyesore' and totally out of sync with the surrounding bygone milieu. Moreover, the structure falls within 100 metres of Charminar, a national monument.
Three options
Authorities are examining three options to undo the damage. First, to consult a heritage architect to design a better façade; second, to refer the case to the National Monuments Authority and third, to recommend a stucco finish conforming to the character of the area.
The ‘Shujaiya Bazar' with ground plus first floor has 10 jewellery shops and a restaurant. The owner, S.M. Ibrahim, renovated the building giving it a modern look in 2008 after incurring an expenditure of Rs. 15 lakh. Only last year the building was regularised by the GHMC under the Building Penalisation Scheme. “The file was pending for one year and none raised objections about the elevation,” says Mr. Ibrahim.
He is willing to carry out the necessary modifications, but is aghast at the strong-arm tactics being employed by the GHMC to browbeat him. A GHMC official even threatened to cancel the building regularisation and set a deadline of 15 days to change the façade, it is said.
Mr. Ibrahim wants the government to refund the investment made by him in renovation of the building or do the changes at its own cost. The building in question is in fact the property attached to the adjacent Jamia Masjid, a heritage structure. “The GO 263 clearly says that it is the responsibility of the Municipal Corporation to conserve, maintain and develop heritage buildings within its area,” Mr. Ibrahim points out.
When the government is spending so much on Charminar Pedestrianisation Project, it can surely bear the cost of changing the building façade.
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