City mosques yet to receive Ramzan fund

The ministry of minority welfare had announced a sum of Rs 71 lakh for the repairs and beautification of mosques in the city prior to Ramzan but none of the mosques have received the fund till date. As per the GOMS No 109 dated July 16, 2013, Rs 52 lakh for the mosques in Hyderabad and Rs 19 lakh for mosques in Ranga Reddy were earmarked but even after weeks not a single mosque received money. Maulana Ali Naki of Masjid-e-Jaffery at Alija Kotla in the Old City says, “We undertook maintenance works in the mosque with our own funds and were hopeful for financial assistance but we have not received a single penny. We have been making representations and making the rounds of the Wakf Board and collectors office but to no avail.”

There are 59 mosques in Hyderabad and 26 in Ranga Reddy district. Not a single mosque received funds. Hamed Hussain Jaffery, President of AP Shiya Youth Conference says, “The last time we met the collector we were promised that the funds would be released by August 27. Now the officials say that there are some issues and it will take time. The mosques in Andhra region received funds but the mosques in the twin city and Ranga Reddy haven’t.” Maulana Jalal Hyder of Masjid-e-Zehra at Moula Ali says, “It is more than three weeks since the festival got over and the government is still keeping the funds. They just want to delay and finally not release the funds.

There are many mosques in the city that are in dire need of repairs and cosmetic changes will not work.” Echoing similar sentiment is Mirza Asad Ali Taki of Masjid-e-Alibag at Asif Nagar he says, “This government is unfair and has given just promises. We undertook repairs by the help of donations. We spent Rs 70,000 for repairs and painting. We request the government to expedite the process and help mosques regain their past glory.”