Hyderabad: The ancient Errum Manzil palace may give way to Telangana State Legislative Assembly and Council buildings if the state government goes ahead with its proposal.
The government wants to construct new buildings for the Legislative Assembly and Council. Errum Manzil campus, accommodating the old roads and buildings and Jala Soudha offices has been chosen as the location.
Officials from the Roads and Buildings department said a decision would be taken by the government soon and that the dilapidated palace would have to give way to new buildings.
Changes coming soon.
The Telangana government wants to conserve the existing historic Assembly building and use it in a way that fits its heritage value. The new Assembly building, constructed behind the heritage Assembly structure, would be used for government purposes. As it is there has been a need for a new Council building as the present one lacks space.
Heritage activists meanwhile said while they were not against development, the Telangana government should ensure that Hyderabad continues to be a city of “old and new” structures. They said steps should be taken to restore the Errum Manzil palace and the new buildings should compliment the beauty of the structure.
INTACH Telangana co-convener Ms P. Anuradha Reddy said, “Heritage buildings are ornaments of a city and visual representatives of historic development. They are like jewels worn by a woman. Efforts should be made to conserve the Errum Manzil which was once a venue for royal banquets and regal events.”
She said people from across the world don’t come to see the Metro Rail, but heritage buildings that reflect the past glory of Hyderabad.
Mr O.M. Debara of Forum For A Better Hyderabad said the government failed to remove religious structures on roads despite the Supreme Court directions but wanted to pull down heritage structures.
“Everyone wants development but it should ensure the protection of heritage. Turkey, Germany, Venice have protected their heritage structures. Some of them are over 800 years old,” he said.
