HYDERABAD: Lack of care from the owners of Mahboob Mansion and the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh government is the reason behind the present condition of the 116-year-old property in Malakpet, historians and conservation architects opine.
The Marri Channa Reddy government used the 200-acre land as a residential area and the present day huge Malakpet Gunj market. “What kind of government uses heritage property as a market?” asks a miffed Anuradha Naik, a conservation architect. “It clearly portrays the mind set of the government.” Though the reason behind government accessing the property is not clear, many opine that the Nizam’s Trust might have defaulted on taxes and as a result, the property was seized by the government.
“We thought that the Telangana government, when it came to power, would look after Hyderabad’s heritage. But there’s clearly a lack of intent visible from their side,” Mohammed Safiullah, a city historian said, and added that compared to the other princely states, Hyderabad is much more grander, but it is also the most neglected.
Director of State Archaeology department NR Visalatchy, when contacted, said, “This property doesn’t fall under my department or the State government. I gather it must come under the Nizam’s Trust.”
This confusion regarding the ownership is also a reason behind the lack of conservation, Safiullah opined. “It is the prerogative the handlers of the monument to ensure its conservation. However, this confusion shows why it’s neglected.”
“The handlers are just waiting for the building to crumble down. They will then go ahead and demolish it,” said Siraj Attari.