Legal heirs of late Nawab Fakhrul Mulk appeal to KCR

Hyderabad: Legal heirs of Nawab Fakhrul Mulk, who constructed the Errum Manzil Palace, on Wednesday urged Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao not to demolish the 1870 structure for construction of a new State Legislative Assembly and Council buildings in its place.

Errum Manzil is an architectural wonder and hidden gem in the busy and fast developing streets of Hyderabad. The palace boasts of over 150 rooms, with a golf course, horse stable, and polo ground, but is currently used as offices for government officials.

Nawab Shafath Ali Khan, General Secretary of Nawab Fakhrul Mulk Legal Heirs Association addressing the press said the Errum Manzil Palace was built and owned by the famous, eminent Nobel of Hyderabad, Nawab Fakhrul Mulk Bahadur, who was awarded a status of Umara-e-Uzzamin, in the Nizam regime.

Like the Hyderabad House in Delhi, we can use this historical monument for meeting and visiting of the foreign dignitaries as this beautiful structure is very much part of Hyderabad's history, culture and heritage, he added.

Doctor Fathima Shenaz, one of the Heirs said Errum Manzil is a historical monument which was visited by top British dignitaries including the Viceroy of India. She also pointed out that the palace had served as the government office for decades and had become landmark that a metro station has been named after it.

She recalled that Fakhrul Mulk had served as Minister in different portfolios in the then Nizam government. "Our family motto is only to save the palace and restore its glory", she added.

Nawab Syed Ali Shahreyar, Association president said, "when our ancestors graciously surrendered the property to the government; we expected it to be taken care of, to be used as a remembrance of Fakhrul Mulk and his contributions to Hyderabad instead of demolition and construction of something else."

Dr Lubna Sarwath said it is not fair to demolish such historical monument Errum Manzil building which was constructed in the year 1870 was a heritage structure and it cannot be demolished without permission from Heritage Conservation Committee.

She also stated that instead of demolishing Errum Manzil palace Telangana government can modify the State secretariat which is more than 24 acres.

They claimed that they do not stand to benefit monetarily in any way from saving this structure and their only desire is to preserve the building.