Heritage Moazzam Jahi Market stinks!

The Moazzam Jahi Market got a new lease of life after the TRS government insisted on changing the alignment of proposed Hyderabad Metro Rail project in its vicinity. Though the Telangana government supports heritage structures like the Secretariat and Charminar, it failed to initiate action to save the monuments from decay.

The Moazzam Jahi Market, built by the Nizams, presents a sorry state as garbage is dumped at its backyard, drains overflow and ceiling leaks and a roof garden on the terrace threatens to weaken the structure further. It has become an adda for consumption of liquor on its premises.

Trash is brought from faraway places to be dumped at the site. A jeep from ISKCON was found dumping construction material and trash when The Hans India visited the site.

Syed Giasuddin, an owner of a furniture shop, said the GHMC did not give a thought to placement of the bin as the building is a heritage structure. Moreover, it has become an open urinal for the passersby.

"It is unfortunate that after newspapers highlight the condition of the market, officials, ministers and politicians visit the place and promise action. Nothing really moves after that and things are back to square one," says K B Iqbal, treasurer and acting president of the traders association.

"Whenever we took the issue to the officials, they used to blame on less rent. Now they don't have an alibi as the rents have been hiked by 1000 per cent," he added. The former mayor Banda Kartika Reddy promised Rs 2 crore to take up repair works and none heard about it after the funds were sanctioned.

Today the traders have to compete with ultramodern shopping complexes as the present generation prefers malls to heritage structures.

"Do you think the customers will visit the market after they see the place," questions Iqbal.

Water logging is a problem in rainy season.

"A slight drizzle gives nightmare for us. Rainwater from Nampally and Abids roads flood the market and it’s a cesspool for a couple of days," says Vijay Kumar, a grocery store owner.

Several traders blamed the civic officials for overflowing drains as the main entrance of the market was closed by constructing a cement wall. It is alleged that a trader blocked the main channel of the drain. Another major issue that troubles the traders is lack of lighting inside the complex and security. They hope that the present government would initiate permanent measures to save and maintain the heritage structures in a pristine beauty.