400-year-old Moti Darwaza takes a fall

Moti Darwaza at Golconda Fort, that withstood mighty elephants and the strong army of Aurangzeb, fell apart due to lack of care. Locals and heritage activists blame the ongoing pipeline works by the Water Board nearby which was allegedly taken up without permission

Moti Darwaza, one of the eight gateways in the historic Golconda Fort fell apart on Wednesday morning. Built during the reign of Ibrahim Quli Qutub Shah between 1552 and 1580, the gateways were built to protect the population from external threat.

Locals allege that the Moti Darwaza collapsed due to the pipeline works nearby. “A trench was dug close to the darwaza which weakened the structure,” informed a resident of Golconda. The Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) took up digging a trench at Banjari Darwaza.

It is alleged that permission from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) was not taken. The board’s request in this connection was referred to the Director General, ASI, at Delhi, by local officials. MA Qayyum, former deputy director, Archaeology and Museums, said, “After the Qutub Shahi dynasty and shifting of the city from Golconda, the fort was used as a military garrison. But post independence there has been no proper care. Termite protection and chemical cleaning should have been taken up at periodic intervals.”

“There are two gateways at Dabeerpura and Purana Pul too that are in dire need of repairs. The gateway giving way should be taken as a clarion call and protect the leftover heritage,” said P Anuradha Reddy, convenor, INTACH, Hyderabad.

Rahmat Ali, a resident of Golconda, said that digging works so close to the historic fort that would deface and weaken it. Repeated requests to contact officials of ASI proved futile. Earlier the Hans India reported about the lack of maintenance by the ASI. The situation had plunged to such an extent that salaries to the security staff were also not paid.