Road-widening works near Toli Masjid stopped

Hyderabad: The road-widening works between Karwan-Jiyaguda which were being undertaken by Hyderabad Road Development Corporation Ltd (HRDCL) were stopped following a recent interim order from High Court for a period of two weeks. The court has asked the Managing Director, HRDCL and also Chief Executive Officer, Telangana State Wakf Board to respond.
 
The Hans India first broke the story ‘HRDCL violates decree on Wakf land’ on May 10, which was later carried by other English newspapers. It highlighted that in violation of judgment and decree of State Wakf Tribunal that no construction work will be taken in Wakf property of Toli Mosque without following any due procedure, the HRDCL began its work of road-widening of Karwan-Jiyaguda road. 

Even though the TS Wakf Board’s officials tried to stop the work, the contractors related to HRDCL resumed within a day. This prompted the Wakf activists to take the matter in their hands. They decided to resist the works being undertaken over the Wakf land of about 16,000 sq yds which is an attached property of Toli Mosque in Karwan. 

It was held that despite GHMC’s Engineer-in-Chief’s ‘Memo of Undertaking’ that the works would not be taken up till clearance from Wakf was received, the road-widening work was started by HRDCL during May. Following this interim order, work has been completely stopped for last five days. “As per the norms, private parties are paid compensation some times more than market value, then why not the Wakf Board is entitled to similar payment?” asked, the petitioner, Osman Bin Mohammed Al-Hajri, president of Deccan Wakf Properties Protection Society. 

As per the decree, the authorities taking up development should first compensate Rs 48 crore (2013) for land acquisition of 15,888.8 sq yds, which has been never paid, but the works have already started in violation of Tribunal orders and decree, he alleged. Toli Masjid was built in 1671 AD on Karwan road and 27 acres and 30 gunta of land was recorded as Wakf is under it. Its market value is said to be 600 to 1000 crore rupees. But politically influential land grabbers and unauthorised constructions came up in the last two decades.

Osman Al-Hajri said that the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had promised to protect the Wakf lands, but works being undertaken by HRDCL without any clearance from Wakf, sends a wrong signal to the people who had elected the TRS to power. He expressed anguish that not even the local MLA nor the Hyderabad MP raised objection to the developmental projects being undertaken on Wakf land. “Not a single letter was submitted by these public representatives who claim to be fighting for the interests of minorities and dalits,” added the activist.