The fact that there have been massive encroachments on the Qutb Shahi tombs premises over the past few years in known. But the extent of it is something to worry about, as with each passing day, it is becoming a struggle for officials of the Department of Archaeology and Museums to fend-off local pressure.
A case in point is the entire area behind the Hamam Baoli encroached by locals who have built houses, including two and three storey buildings. When this reporter visited the site on Saturday, construction work was going on at three places just a few feet beyond the boundary wall of the Qutb Shahi tombs.
Over the last few years, the Department had been facing trouble from locals who have encroached about three acres of land behind the Hamam Baoli area, and have also started using mosques like the Abdullah Masjid on the Qutb Shahi tombs premises. “This problem started getting worse since 2009 and has not stopped till now,” said a department official.
A visit to the tombs shows that out of seven acres, there has been a lot of illegal encroachment at the rear end. To avoid losing more land, a boundary wall had been erected by the Archaelogical Department. While construction is going on, an unknown tomb can be seen in the middle of the built houses, clearly showing the sad state of affairs.
“We plan to develop a green area in a few years time in the rear portion. Currently, the restoration is in its third year, so around the fifth or sixth year that will be done, once the landscaping commences,” said an official, requesting anonymity. He pointed out that locals had even built illegal gates at five points along the boundary wall to be able to enter the tombs premises to access the mosques.
One of the illegally occupied mosques behind Hayat Bakshi Begum’s tomb has even been renamed ‘Masjid-E-Noor-Qutb’ by the locals, who have made structural changes to the edifice. “The area where houses have come up is called Gulshan Colony. We had proposed to extend the boundary wall across the entire periphery, but the department feels that then it will be accepting the encroachments,” said the official.
The official also pointed out that there was pressure from locals to allow them to make changes in the mosques within the tombs, which is not permissible by law, as there are heritage sites. “Every week locals come to us and make new demands. There is political pressure as well,” said the official.
He added that the locals had support from MIM’s Karwan MLA Kauser Mohiuddin. However, In spite of repeated attempts, he could not be contacted.
Rift between sects
The encroachment of land in the heritage site is also leading to a rift between Sunni and Shia sects pertaining to places of worship in the historical site.
About a week ago, the Department of Archaeology and Museums, which is in-charge of the heritage site, received an RTI application from a member of the Shia community seeking details as to why members of the Sunni community are being allowed to worship in mosques on the Qutb Shahi tombs premises, revealed officials.
The heritage site was where royal family members of the Qutb Shahi dynasty were buried, including Mohammed Quli, the founder of Hyderabad. They were Shias, noted the senior official.
(With inputs from Victor Paul and Shreya Devaki)
