Hyderabad’s Mecca Masjid conservation works gain steam

Hyderabad: Conservation works taken up at the historic Mecca Masjid will be soon expedited with the Minority Welfare Department asking the Heritage Department to complete the works before Ramzan. The conservation works of the 17th century mosque were initiated in the year 2017 and have been continuing. The authorities had initially fixed a time frame […]

Hyderabad: Conservation works taken up at the historic Mecca Masjid will be soon expedited with the Minority Welfare Department asking the Heritage Department to complete the works before Ramzan.

The conservation works of the 17th century mosque were initiated in the year 2017 and have been continuing. The authorities had initially fixed a time frame of 18 months for completion of the works but due to various reasons only 50 per cent of the work has been completed so far.

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The State government had sanctioned around Rs 8 crore for the project and had called for tenders from reputed firms engaged in taking up conservation works of the heritage structures. Though two Mumbai-based firms had joined the conservation efforts, due to some issues pertaining to execution, one firm backed off, the Minority Welfare Department officials said.

The State Department of Heritage is supervising the conservation works and coordinating with the local officials of the Minority Welfare Department, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and other agencies.

The conservation works on the ‘maqbara’ housing the graves of royal family members was completed while the works on the main hall of the mosque is yet to be completed. The restoration of the main door and the gateway also were completed last year.

An official of the TS Wakf Board said the works were dragging on for the last four years and due to various issues like contractor, funds and the recent Covid pandemic slowed down the progress further.

Abdul Khadeer Siddiqui, Superintendent, Mecca Masjid, maintained that the works in the main hall of the mosque were in progress now.

“Conservation works in the part of the main hall and domes are in progress. Almost 50 per cent of the works have been completed inside in a phased manner,” he said.

A few days ago, officials of the Minority Welfare Department reviewed with Minister for Minority Affairs Koppula Eshwar about the Mecca Masjid conservation works. The Minister had asked the departments concerned to expedite the works.

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