‘Tree that saved lives will be protected’

The tamarind tree, located near Afzal Park, had saved at least 150 lives during the Musi floods of 1908. Transforming Musi into a live river and restoring its old glory is a herculean task. However, it can be done and I am hopeful we will do it.

Memorial and Solidarity meet, to pay homage to victims of the 1908 Musi floods, under the great tamarind tree that saved 150 lives, in Hyderabad on Sunday. Photo: G. Ramakrishna

The tamarind tree here that offered sanctuary and saved more than 150 lives during the Musi floods of 1908, would be protected and the past glory of its immediate environs at Afzal Park would be revived, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Commissioner Somesh Kumar said here on Sunday.

At a meeting organised under the same saviour tree by Centre for Deccan Studies (CDS) and Forum For Better Hyderabad (FBH) to pay homage to the 1908 Musi flood victims, Mr. Somesh Kumar said experts would be roped to restore and maintain the historic tree. The availability of money was not an issue for the civic body, he said.

Saving Musi

Responding to pleas to save the Musi, Mr. Somesh Kumar said the task involved departments such as revenue, water board, irrigation and also active involvement on part of the local populace.

“Transforming Musi into a live river and restoring its old glory is a herculean task. However, it can be done and I am hopeful we will do it,” he said.

Heritage works

Towards protecting the city’s heritage, the GHMC has been actively pursuing various works, including the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project and restoration works at the Quli Qutub Shahi Tombs, he said, adding that incentives for protection of heritage structures were also under consideration and orders could be expected soon.

“At least five to six monuments of Hyderabad should be on the UNESCO list but there are none. We need commitment to preserve heritage and maintain them,” the GHMC Commissioner added.

CDS secretary Sajjad Shahid recounted the accounts of havoc caused by the 1908 floods and said the ravaging Musi swept through colonies, destroyed properties and affected thousands of people.

“Hyderabad showed remarkable resilience and rebuilt,” he said, adding that more than 100 years later, the city was still facing similar problems. Mr. Shahid said the tamarind tree needed to be recognised, protected and respected.

FBH president M. Vedakumar called for steps to address issues related to dumping of pollutants and garbage and encroachments to save the Musi. The riverfront here needed to be developed with afforestation using native species, he said.