Nizamia Historic structures on their last legs

Historic structures on their last legs?
TNN Jul 5, 2011, 01.06am IST

HYDERABAD: The decades-old Nizamia General (Unani) Hospital and the Old Jail building of Hyderabad could soon lose their heritage tag. If the latest buzz among heritage activists is any indication, the Andhra Pradesh government is planning to delist these ancient monuments, which are in their custodianship, but have been lying in shambles for several years. Activists see this proposal as a move by the government to demolish these structures to make way for modern constructions.

"Every heritage building, by the virtue of its age, is bound to be frail. But instead of sanctioning sufficient funds for their upkeep, the government is looking at destroying them. And de-notification is the first step towards that," said heritage activist Manatosh Mandal, who has over the last few months submitted a bunch of appeals to the state authorities to look into the failing health of Hyderabad's architectural heritage.

The Unani Hospital, opposite Charminar, was listed as a heritage structure in 1995-96 (along with 136 other ancient buildings) for its magnificent Indo-Saracenic architectural style and for its contribution to Unani medicine. A similar recognition was given to the Old Jail building in Secunderabad around 2006; a structure that served as the civil jail during the British rule. However, despite their being listed, a status which should ideally ensure that a building/site of historical significance is protected and preserved, the two structures have failed to attract any government attention. As a result, these monuments now wear a dilapidated appearance, with a good part of them being damaged beyond repair. It came as no surprise when a female attendant recently lost her life after a weak minaret of the 200-year-old hospital came crashing down on her. The roof of the 80-year-old (approx) jail building, now used as a local market, had also collapsed in 2008 due to lack of maintenance, a state of events that gave tenants the jitters. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in that incident.