More than a century-old, magnificent building of Osmania Hospital along with many other heritage structures of Hyderabad are once again in a grave existential threat as the Telangana Government, in its drive of “development at any cost”, has done away with a legal provision, which was coming in the way of its plan to demolish the heritage structure.
In a move strongly criticised by the conservation activists, the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS)-led State Government has deleted Regulation 13 of the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority Zoning Regulations, which ensured the protection of 160 listed heritage buildings and precincts in the city. It argued that the clause was inconsistent with the AP Urban Areas Development Act, 1975.
The Municipal administration and Urban Development Department issued the GO No 183 deleting the key clause. The GO said, “Regulation 13 was added by way of amendment to the HYDA Zoning Regulation vide GOMs Number 542. The said regulation provides scheme of identification of conservation, and heritage and historical buildings/precincts thereon. After formation of Telangana, the Government have considered the issue and felt that the Regulation 13 is inconsistent with the AP Act I/1975 and decided to delete Regulation 13”.
The move is being seen not only to overcome the legal hurdles in the way of the demolition of Nizam-era structure of the Osmania General Hospital on the bank of the Musi river, but also to clear the path for razing many other structures which were coming in the way of the Metro Rail Project and widening of other city roads.
Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had grudgingly given in to the public pressure against the plans to pull down OGH building as the Hyderabad High Court had also objected to it. But now deletion of the legal provision will reopen the issue and the Government may once again try to force its way, several conservation activists warned.
However, the owners of many private heritage buildings and precincts who wanted to develop new properties in their place were happy with the move. Of the 160 listed heritage buildings, 75 per cent were privately owned.
However, the Government’s move was not likely to go unchallenged as the heritage activists were consulting legal experts before knocking on the doors of the High Court.