Cement Use in St Mary’s Basilica Repairs Sparks Concern
Construction of the Roman Catholic church began in 1840 and the Indo-Gothic structure was completed and blessed in 1850.
Hyderabad:Parishioners of St Mary’s Basilica have raised objections to ongoing renovation work at the 176-year-old structure, alleging the use of incompatible materials that could affect its heritage character.
Construction of the Roman Catholic church began in 1840 and the Indo-Gothic structure was completed and blessed in 1850. The Basilica, located on SD Road, is a prominent landmark in Secunderabad and offers multilingual services through the week. It was accorded Basilica status by a Vatican decree issued on November 7, 2008.
Parishioners said the current repairs involve the use of cement and sand instead of traditional lime and granite used in the original construction. Lenny Emanuel, a third-generation parishioner, said, “This basilica is renowned across the world. We approached the church management and explained that unscientific renovation of this historic structure would damage its heritage value.”
Heritage conservationist Anuradha Reddy also flagged concerns over the method of restoration. She said, “St Mary’s Basilica received an INTACH award in 2007. I am personally connected to this spiritual space, as my mother and I studied at St Ann’s School. I would be honoured to help the basilica management conserve, maintain and manage this historic structure in a manner befitting its stature. I would be happy to assist if contacted, so that the basilica retains its importance as an internationally recognised spiritual and historical treasure of Secunderabad. Someone in Rome recognised the importance of St Mary’s Church and elevated it to the status of a basilica. It is now our responsibility to preserve its place in history for future generations. The structure was built using traditional granite stone, brick and lime. Lime has a long life and blends well with the original materials. Cement, however, is not compatible with lime-based structures. It does not react in the same way and may separate over time, causing damage to the original fabric of the building.”
She advised, “All buildings, whether historical or modern, must undergo routine inspection and maintenance to prevent water stagnation, which can seep into the structure and cause damage.”
Parishioners Rinald Solomon and Ignatius Francis said leakage issues had been addressed earlier with expert consultation. “We object to the kind of renovation work currently being carried out. The basilica authorities should reconsider it, as work is underway on the steps inside the church, the holy water pits and several other areas,” they said.
Responding to the concerns, parish priest Fr M. Arogyam said, “This is only a small portion of the work we are carrying out, as lime and skilled lime workers were not available. We will reconsider the renovation work.”
