The Telangana State Government has reiterated its commitment to conserve and preserve heritage buildings, heritage precincts including rock formations and other heritage sites across the State.
The Legislative Assembly has passed the Telangana Heritage (Protection, Preservation, Conservation and Maintenance) Act, 2017 aimed at securing the heritage structures across the State. Speaking on the Bill introduced by Tourism and Culture Minister Ajmeera Chandulal, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said though a legislation on protecting the heritage sites was introduced in the erstwhile united State, it had several loopholes making it difficult for the Government to ensure preservation of these sites.
Moreover, the previous regulation (regulation 13) was made under the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority’s zoning regulations confining its operation to few buildings that too located in the State capital.
The regulation was found inconsistent with the Telangana Urban Areas (Development) Act of 1975 and so had to be deleted two years ago.
Across State
There was no legislation to deal with heritage buildings and their precincts as also rock formations in other rural and urban areas of the new State outside the HMDA area and for conservation and protection of heritage and culture of Telangana State which was blend of Telugu and Persian culture. It was therefore considered necessary to undertake separate legislation in this direction.
As part of the Act, the Government would constitute a State level Telangana State Heritage Authority with the Chief Secretary as chairman and Archaeology and Museums director as member convenor.
The Chief Minister said the Government was no averse to nominating the leader of the Opposition as a member of the committee and it would soon call for a meeting of all political parties to elicit their suggestions on the rules that would be framed for the panel. Explaining the difficulties in managing the sites after handing them over to the Archaeological Survey of India, the Chief Minister recalled that the Government had to obtain permission from New Delhi every time to hoist the national flag at Golconda Fort.
Congress member S.A. Sampath Kumar suggested that the Government consider roping in experts rather than senior IAS officers so that they could give appropriate suggestions.
