The Telangana State Waqf Board (TSWB) and the H.E.H. Nizam Auqaaf Committee (HEHNAC) will coordinate to protect the Nizam’s properties which are under the latter’s management. This includes a three-acre land parcel in KBR National Park.
The two panels met on Wednesday at Haj House, where a decision was taken to work in tandem. Of the discussions on 62 properties which the HEHNAC manages, Board chairman Mohammed Saleem said that steps would be taken to fence the land parcel in the KBR National Park on which an INTACH Heritage-awarded masjid stands.
Speaking to HEHNAC office-bearers, Mr. Saleem said, “We (Board) will get it fenced. If need be, we will speak to the Chief Minister to get it done.” HEHNAC office-bearer Faiz Khan said that the panel has been in discussions with the forest department. He also said that a joggers track passes through half an acre of the land parcel. The deliberations saw both bodies agreeing to share status of cases which are pending in various courts of law so that counters can be filed.
Waqf Board officials suggested that the HEHNAC adopt its counter in the Baba Sharfuddin Dargah land parcel case which, they said, was given to the Hyderabad Airport. According to Mr. Saleem, of the 2,210 acres endowed to the dargah, 1,050 acres were given to the airport.
At the meeting, the TSWB sought to stake claim to an undisclosed sum which was given as compensation after buildings of the Nizam’s rubaat in Mecca, Saudi Arabia were demolished as a part of the widening of the Holy Mosque complex. According to Mr. Saleem, the compensation funds run into several crores of rupees and are with a Saudi court. “The Auqaaf Committee is the rightful owner of these funds. But the TSWB is entitled to get waqf funds,” he said.
