Newly renovated Charminar’s minaret plaster peels off

A chunk of limestone plaster from the recently renovated Southwest minaret of the historic Charminar facing the Laad Bazaar (the Bangle Street) in the old city here fell down late on Wednesday night. However, no one was injured in the mishap.

The Archeological Survey of India (ASI) officials are yet to visit and ascertain the reasons behind the mishap. The limestone plaster was presumed to be affected by seepage of water and cracks started appearing on the structure.

The ASI wrote to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) last year, asking them to speed up the project aimed at diverting the traffic away from the monument. Now heavy vehicles are restricted from entering the inner circle of the Charminar.

“Heavy traffic has caused damage to the structure due to vibrations from the vehicles; the smoke has resulted in the plaster peeling off. This has been happening even as the structure is under the protection of Archeological Society of India which has declared the 300-meter vicinity of the structure as heritage zone,” rued L Panduranga Reddy, noted historian of Hyderabad.

As per the data from the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board, several structures such as Mecca Masjid, Jama Masjid, Char Kaman (the four arches that lead to Charminar), Unani Hospital, Pathargatti, Sardar Mahal and the Badshahi Ashurkhana have recorded the highest pollution figures comparable to the busiest crossroads in the city.

Historians and environmentalists have been urging the government to complete the pedestrianisation project which involves traffic management, development of the precincts of Charminar with amenities for the tourists and widening of the four approach roads. However, the complex nature of diversion of vehicular traffic through alternative roads, the issue of displacement of thousands of families surrounding the structure and non-availability of land for expansion have bogged down the project.

Lack of political will has hampered the Charminar pedestrianisation project (CPP). The CPP began in the year 2000 and Rs. 22 crore was spent on laying a granite road and erecting iron dividers to separate pedestrians from vehicular traffic. However, the dividers were removed after a few years.

When the project was first floated it was estimated to cost Rs. 139 crore. However, opposition from a few religious structures, electricity substations the cost escalated to Rs 479.86 crore in 2010 when the Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi launched the project formally. The space created by the development work has been encroached upon by hawkers.