Government exploring ways to protect Errum Manzil

Hyderabad: With the decision of the state government to demolish Errum Manzil and construct a new Assembly and Legislative council building becoming controversial, the government is now exploring various options.

It wants to see if it could construct the Assembly complex without demolishing the heritage structure.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has asked the officials to submit a proposal on how to conserve the heritage structure without causing any damage to the existing buildings, according to sources.

A top official told The Hans India that a four-member Technical Committee headed by Engineer-in- Chief (ENC) and Roads and Buildings department has been asked to make recommendations about the modification, improvements, additions, requirement of new Secretariat and Legislature complex.

The team will take up a detailed study in the premises of the Errum Manzil.

Several civil society organisations, heritage activists and also the legal heirs of Nawab Fakhr-Ul- Mulk, who built the palace in 1870, were demanding the government to stop the demolition of the structure.

The legal heirs are also insisting the government to compensate them for taking away 9 acres of the palace land for various purposes by successive governments. The High Court also took serious note of government's proposal to raze the structure.

Officials said that the technical team would examine the possibility of construction of new assembly in the available land without disturbing the heritage structure.

The other proposal is to take over lands available behind the newly constructed ENC Irrigation Office, Roads and Buildings and National Highway Authority of India offices abutting the construction site.

Sources said that so far, no design has been finalised for the construction of new assembly complex. The conservation of the heritage building will be considered as important issue before finalising the designs.

A meeting with organisations which revolted against the demolition of buildings is also planned in case the removal of building becomes imminent, a senior official said on condition of anonymity.

The committee will also study the facilities available and condition of the existing buildings in the Secretariat and also the Legislature building.

The demolition of buildings in the Secretariat will begin only after the committee submits report to the Chief Minister, the official said.