Heritage activists flag encroachment, digging at Qutub Shahi Masjid

Hyderabad: Heritage Watch, an environmental activists’ group in Hyderabad, has complained to the commissioner of Manikonda Municipality about illegal digging adjacent to the historic Qutub Shahi Masjid and Graveyard in Neknampur. They alleged that digging using heavy machinery so close to the heritage site can weaken its foundation and destroy it.

As per the convener of Heritage Watch, Md Ilyas Khan, a few locals have been trying to encroach on the site and Qutub Shahi Masjid land in the Secretariat Enclave, Neknampur, Gandipet Mandal Survey number 31 and they are using heavy machinery for digging the adjacent area.

As per the Ancient Monuments and Archeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, no construction or new activity is allowed within a radius of 100 metres around the heritage or historic site, while an area up to 200 metres beyond the prohibited area is regulated.

Hitachi and JCB machinery being used

In his letter to the municipal commissioner recently, also marked to the Telangana State Wakf Board, district collector of Rangareddy, Cyberabad police commissioner, Gandipet mandal revenue officer (MRO) and SHO, Narsingi Police Station, Khan wrote, “Some unknown persons with vested interest are trying to encroach the Qutub Shahi and tomb land in Secretariat Enclave in Neknampur, Gandipet Mandal Survey No 31 by using heavy machinery like Hitachi and JCB and have started digging the adjacent area. Earlier also, land grabbers had attempted to encroach the aforesaid land. The Wakf Board officials were notified and they came and examined the land and action was taken to curb the activities of the land grabbers.”

The convener of Heritage Watch requested the authorities to safeguard the Dargah Saadullah Hussaini, Graveyard, 400-year-old Qutub Shahi Masjid and the adjacent land and take the required action against encroachers.

Intermittent attempts at encroachment since 2012

Md Ilyas said, “This attempt at encroachment and digging is not new. Since 2012, attempts have been made to encroach on the site, mainly by land sharks, who want to construct buildings over there. There is an old graveyard and dargah of Saadullah Hussaini behind the Seven Tombs. Each time a complaint is made, the police come and the work stops temporarily. The Wakf Board has also been intimated about the issue and they have inspected the site based on our complaints. Sometimes, overnight the debris is cleared and when the authorities arrive, they do not find any digging or encroachment activity. But this on-and-off digging using heavy machinery, blasting in proximity to the heritage sites will affect the foundation of old structures and they may fall down and get destroyed if such activities continue.”