Another temple controversy hits Charminar

Hyderabad: As the controversy over the illegal temple adjacent to the historic monument of Charminar in Hyderabad continues to rage, a similar dispute has erupted over the construction of another temple within 100 metres of the same monument.

The temple, which was being constructed discreetly next to the Charminar Police station for some time, has now come into sharp focus with the Andhra Pradesh High Court taking note of it and issuing directions to the authorities to stop construction work immediately.

The structure, covered by plastic sheets, is in flagrant violation of the law that prohibits any construction within 100 metres of a protected monument.

On a public interest litigation filed by an advocate, Khaleelullah, a division bench of the High Court issued orders to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the Archaeological Survey of India to immediately stop the illegal construction work. The court also issued notices to the temple committee, Endowment Commissioner and several other officials and scheduled the next hearing after three weeks.

The petitioner brought to the notice of the court that any construction in the radius of 100 metres of a protected monument was a violation of Gazette Notification of July 4, 1992. He also submitted to the court that the temple committee was pressing ahead with the construction despite the ASI issuing a show cause notice on August 21.

This fresh controversy has arisen as the area around Charminar is still in grip of communal tension over the temple adjacent to the south western minaret of the monument. It has become a bone of contention and every Friday thousands of policemen are being deployed and the roads leading towards Charminar are being cordoned off.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court has already issued an order against any further expansion or modification to the structure.