HYDERABAD: The officials of GHMC, TSSPDCL and minority welfare department (MWD) were unprepared for Ramzaan in the Old City, as was evident with 4-hour power cut before and during the first Sehri, lack of Janamaz (prayer mats) for Namazis in Mecca Masjid, stinking toilets, unclean ablution (Wazuu) pond at the historic mosque during Tarawih (additional Ramzan prayers at night), on Tuesday.
Lack of coordination between the departments is said to be the major reason for the mismanagement. Deputy CM Mohammed Ali along with minorities welfare department secretary Syed Omer Jaleel and Charminar MLA Ahmed Pasha Quadri, inspected Ramzan preparations at Mecca Masjid on May 4 and promised `10 crore to improve the facilities there.
“Unlike earlier Ramzans, this time no team of senior officials from GHMC, MWD, TSSPCL or HMWS&SB were present at Mecca Masjid. A short-circuit resulted in power cuts at the mosque twice during Tarawih and Namazis had to offer prayers in the dark, despite having two generators, which were also not working. Over 30 percent of the Namazis did not have prayer mats despite government promising to import them from Iran,” Majlis Bachao Tehreek youth leader Amjedullah Khan said.
“Power went off at 11 pm and was restored at 3.30 am. People in Chandrayangutta, Hafeezbabanagar, Shahalibanda, Chaderghat, Falaknuma and other areas cooked and ate food for Sehri in the dark,” he added.
However, South Zone SE Anand Tirumalapalli blamed it on dsyfunctioning of Indiranagar sub-station. “There was no transmission problem. There was some problem at Indiranagar sub-station,” he said. He said people can call (040-23431166, 040-23431163, 9440812925 (AD, CBD, Charminar), 9440812948 (AD, CBD, Begum Bazaar), 9440812929 if they have a problem.