Hyderabad: Parsi community sends SOS to govt after Bai Maneckbai fire temple faces sewage blockage

Hyderabad: Bai Maneckbai Nusserwanji Chenoy Dar-e-Meher, a cherished sanctuary for Hyderabad's Parsi Zoroastrian community, is facing an unprecedented crisis.

Built on October 16, 1904, the revered temple is reeling from a sewage blockage.

A Century of Solace Disrupted:

This temple, holding not only historical significance but also cultural and architectural importance, has been a spiritual haven for generations. Recognized with the HUDA Heritage Building award in 2001, it has been a place of tranquility amidst the bustling life of Hyderabad.

Residents Struggle Amidst Contamination:

Beyond its Agiary, the temple complex provides homes for 45 Parsi Zoroastrian families, encompassing over 100 individuals. Situated on Tilak Road, Off. Abids, the temple offers a peaceful refuge amidst the city's hustle and bustle.

However, the tranquility of this revered institution has been severely disrupted since March 9, 2022, by a grave sewage issue.

The sewerage line, laid over a century ago, has been intentionally and unlawfully blocked by Santosh Dhaba, a restaurant sharing its compound wall.

This restaurant, which opened only two decades ago, has caused sewage water to inundate the entire colony, posing distressing health problems to the residents and tainting the serenity of this sacred place.

Meher Daruwala, a local resident, said: "The sewage problem has become a nightmare for us. Our sacred well is contaminated, and our homes are flooded with filthy water. It's unbearable."

For residents, the contamination of the drinking water supply has forced them to purchase expensive bottled water, which many of them can scarcely afford.

Dinshaw Patel, another resident, shared his concerns, saying, "We are struggling to afford clean drinking water. It's our basic right, and it's being denied to us."

It is not just a matter of inconvenience; it's a matter of sacrilege. Residents and the custodians of the Bai Maneckbai Nusserwanji Chenoy Dar-e-Meher are passionately appealing for a swift resolution to restore the sanctity of their sacred space.

Another resident, Banu Mehta, implored, "This temple is the heart of our community. It's not just about a building; it's about our faith and our heritage. We are losing both because of the sewage issue."

The Bai Maneckbai Nusserwanji Chenoy Fire Temple Endowment Trust Fund, Hyderabad, is diligently working to protect and conserve this treasured site.

“It is of utmost importance for local authorities to intervene and ensure that the sanctity and well-being of this historical institution and its residents are preserved. By doing so, the spiritual and cultural heritage of the Parsi Zoroastrian community in Hyderabad can endure in an environment of serenity, reverence, and respect” the community said.