Hyderabad: Golconda gateways left to ruin

Hyderabad: Golconda gateways left to ruin
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Golconda gateways left to ruin

Highlights

Historic structure needs urgent attention as fort opens for visitors

Hyderabad: As the historical Golconda Fort is all set to be thrown open for visitors from Monday, the dilapidated gateways of the fort may disappoint the visitors.

A reality check by The Hans India shows that gaps developed between the stone bricks during the recent years due to the vagaries of nature. Local people allege that there has been deliberate negligence by the authorities and what was a structure a few months ago has now turned into stones and bricks and soon they would be cleared and some concrete structure would come up there.

The modus operandi, the local people say, is that once a structure collapses, the debris are cleared to make room for a new concrete structure by local leaders who can influence authorities, said Md Tajuddin, a regular commuter from Moti Darwaza.

A visit to the fort revealed that though some repair works at some places near the main citadel and some locations at walls were taken up in the recent past, the gateways of Jamali Kunta, Moti Darwaza and even Fateh Darwaza are slowly wearing out owing to continuous neglect.

Another gateway near Athara Seedi (18-steps) the Patancheru Darwaza remains out of bounds and rarely known to the outside people as it had remained closed for years. Other three gateways, two of which Makki Darwaza (towards Sun City) and Bodli Darwaza remain under Military control and the Banjari Darwaza (another thoroughfare towards 7-tombs) at the entrance of the Golf Club remains in good condition.

Heritage buffs have sought the attention of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) towards the gateways that need urgent repairs given the way gaps between the stone bricks appeared in the recent years. "The material which helped cement these huge stone bricks has gone and during the rainfall water seeps through these majestic gateways which historically protected the fort from the outside invaders," said a young heritage activist and law student, Mohammed Arif.

The activist who has been watching some of the blocks crumble in front of him the past year, particularly a structure near Moti Darwaza, has blamed this to the neglect by authorities whose focus rested only with the main structure. "Had these gateways were taken care of, even they could become an attraction to both the local and foreign tourists. Some of the engravings and figurines of animals give insights into the cultural influences of southern empires like Vijayanagara on Qutubshahis," he adds.

During the past one year, Arif made all out efforts to meet archeology officials at different levels to bring to their notice about the grave scenario the Deccan's iconic fort is facing. Some of them also spared time to listen to him, but most responded with pessimism owing to lack of funds. "Lockdown is the best period for ASI to start restoration of Golconda fort and surrounding monuments but sadly they didn't start any kind of restoration work. If ASI cannot do restoration during the lockdown then I never expect ASI will do restoration work ever," he tweeted in a desperate attempt to ASI, KTR and GHMC on Sunday.

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