Telangana pitches for Hyd as World Heritage City

KTR opens Deccan Park

Hyderabad: The city of Hyderabad with historic monuments like High Court building, Golconda Fort, Mecca Masjid, etc will make all efforts to win the World Heritage City tag.

Stating this here on Monday while inaugurating the Deccan Park in Shaikpet, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao said the government would send a proposal to the Centre for approval next year.

Once it gets the approval, the UNESCO representatives will visit the city for inspections. The minister said the Qutb Shahi Tombs and Golconda Fort located in 108 acres will be developed as a tourist circuit through the Quli Qutb Shahi Urban Development Authority.

KTR also said tourist arrivals to Hyderabad was steadily increasing for the last few years and all measures were being taken up to make Hyderabad a safe, smart and tourist destination.

Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi said green cover was less in the city and there was a need to increase the green cover to at least 12 per cent and appealed to the minister to renovate and take up beautification works at the Katora Houz near Golconda Fort.

He also requested the minister to renovate the defunct swimming pool at the Deccan Park and permit citizens for morning walk in the park.

A similar request was made by Jubilee Hills MLA M Gopinath to permit walkers into the park. KTR responded positively and said the park will be open for morning and evening walkers.

Union Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said the Central government had allocated Rs 500 crore for tourist circuits at Akkanna Caves, Mahbubnagar and Adilabad. He said all support would be extended to the state government in obtaining the UNESCO Heritage City tag for Hyderabad.