ASI to approach police to stop work at temple near Charminar

Show cause notice issued to temple management

The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) which is the custodian of Charminar plans to approach the local police to stop construction work taken up at a Siva temple located close to the historic structure.

According to officials, some construction work was noticed around the temple some time ago and a show cause notice was issued to the management of the place of worship.

Copy to GHMC

A copy of it was also forwarded to the local police and also the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Rules stipulated by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (Amendment and Validation) Act, 2010 control construction within 300 metres of a protected monument and it included the first 100 metres treated as a prohibited area.

No response

“Some construction related to the cellar and a floor was noticed and we served a notice to the temple management in the month of August. There has been no response so far,” an ASI official said.

No permission

From the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation it was ascertained that no permissions were sought for any sort of construction at this place of worship and the corporation was also asked not to accord any approvals without the required no objection certificate (NOC) from competent authority, he said.

The officials are planning to approach the police again to get the work stopped.

“We are waiting for senior officials on necessary guidelines on this matter,” the ASI official added.