The over-a-century-old ‘G’ block in the Secretariat, with a hoary past, and which now looks like a haunted mansion due to pathetic neglect by successive governments, may soon regain its past glory as the nerve centre of the State administration.
With Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao keen on conserving and restoring the two-storeyed heritage structure built by the sixth Nizam in 1888, and even use it as his office, measures are afoot to seek the Governor’s nod.
The permission of the Governor is mandatory as all government buildings in Hyderabad under the State Reorganisation Act are under his control. “The file is in process. We are not aware whether the Chief Minister’s Office has forwarded it to the Governor,” sources said.
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Proposals, however, are underway to engage heritage architects along with structural engineers in the restoration work so as to retain the building’s original style and unique features. It needs professional supervision and guidance. The two-storied structure with several fascinating and vintage interiors like teakwood lift and staircase will be restored and made functional,” they said.
The building, after it was vacated by its last occupant late Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, survived in the last 20 years several attempts for its demolition, thanks to heritage lovers and activists who protested that it would be a shame to bring down a structure instead of restoring it even after the Heritage Conservation Committee recommended its conservation.
The High Court, while disposing of a petition against its proposed demolition in 2004, directed the then government to take the views of the Heritage Conservation Committee and the HMDA. Both the organisations in 2005 recommended its notification as a heritage building. The building survived demolition attempts, but continued to decay with no maintenance. When the State was placed under President’s rule before bifurcation, one more attempt was made to bring down the structure, but this time the Governor’s advisors paid heed to the representatives from Forum for Better Hyderabad and got the building examined by a team of conservation experts from Rajasthan. The team which restored several ancient forts and palaces in Rajasthan ruled that the building was fit to be restored.
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The issue was pushed to the back burner again as the ‘G’ block was not allotted to either Telangana or Andhra Pradesh when the Governor distributed all other blocks between the two States in view of its poor condition.
Regaining lost grandeur
* The two-storey lime, mortar and stone structure was built in 1888 by the sixth Nizam Mahabub Ali Khan, who ruled Hyderabad State between 1869 and 1911.
*Known as Saifabad Palace, it found place in one of the earliest cartographic maps of Hyderabad brought out in 1914-15. It was the centre of administration during Nizam era in the Hyderabad State. It also served as the Office of Prime Minister of Hyderabad.
* Some of the unique architectural features of this classical European style building include grand semi-circular arches, imposing arched portico, Corinthian columns and high ceiling.
* The ornate wooden staircase and lift inside were its unique attractions, adding to its richness in its heydays.
* Post formation of Andhra Pradesh State, several Chief Ministers such as Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, K. Vijayabhaskar Reddy, Bhavanam Venkatram, T. Anjaiah, N. Janardhan Reddy among others, ran the affairs of the State from the ‘G’ block.
* N.T. Rama Rao was the last Chief Minister who functioned from ‘G’ block.
* The Chief Minister’s Office was shifted from ‘G’ block to ‘C’ block in 1994.
* Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is keen not only to revive it, but also function from there.