Clarify roles of HMDA and GHMC: Telangana HC to govt

HYDERABAD: Noting that there is a likelihood of conflict of purpose between the roles played by GHMC and HMDA in relation to ancient buildings, the Telangana high court on Monday sought to know from the State of Telangana as to how it is striking a balance between the two.
The bench of Chief Justice Raghavendra Singh Chauhan and Justice Shameem Akther was hearing a public interest petition filed by Pasham Yadagiri, senior journalist and founder of Hyderabad Zindabad, an NGO working for the cause of preserving Hyderabad heritage.Yadagiri challenged the state’s proposed decision to demolish the ancient Irrum Manzil palace.
“Assume about a hypothetical situation wherein I inherited a 18th century residential bunglow from my forefathers. Since it is in a dilapidated condition, I prefer to demolish it and raise a new building in its place. GHMC accords me a building plan for taking up the work. But HMDA, entrusted with the task of safeguarding the ancient buildings, would oppose the demolition of the ancient bunglow. How would you explain this conflict in the roles. What remedies do you have to deal with such situations?,” the CJ asked the state counsel.
The bench heard at length the argument of petitioner’s counsel Niroop Reddy who told the court that the state cannot act in a whimsical manner when it comes to ancient buildings like Irrum Manzil and Chowmahalla palaces, which according to HMDA’s heritage rules are ancient palaces built in European style. Since India is a signatory to the world heritage convention, all governments, municipal, state and union governments, should abide by the convention, he said.
Responding to a query from the bench, additional advocate general J Ramachandra Rao told the court that the state had adapted to the AP ancient monuments and heritage Act which has now become the Telangana Heritage Act.
Stating that heritage rules will not disappear with the state’s decision to delete regulation 13 of Hyderabad urban development authority’s heritage rules, senior counsel Niroop said these regulations are still intact in the urban areas development Act. He brought to the notice of the court the need to constitute Urban Arts Commission in tune with the Urban areas development Act. This commission performs a role that is akin to the heritage conservation committee, he said.
The bench sought to know from the state the correlation between the urban arts commission and heritage conservation committee. It asked why urban arts commission disappeared from the scene.