Heritage has become a big joke: KCR

Hyderabad: The word heritage has become a joke in the state, felt Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao. Speaking on the first day of the two-day special session of the Assembly, KCR said even the government guest house Dilkusha is being claimed to be a heritage structure.

The chief minister said that it is unfortunate that those who are making a big issue out of nothing and calling every structure as heritage structure apparently are not aware of the Comprehensive Heritage Policy, which is an Act and not a GO, a fact mistaken by the same voices.

His remarks assume significance as some sections have been openly cornering the government for its decision to construct new legislature buildings in Errum Manzil demolishing the old heritage structure.

Rao said the government had constituted an expert committee which had examined all the issues before deciding on which buildings should get the heritage tag in the state.

He said the government has got its priorities right when it comes to glorifying heritage and culture.

The fact that Independence Day fete is being conducted in Golconda Fort every year is a pointer of the government's commitment to safeguarding heritage monuments, he pointed out.

As regards the dilapidated Osmania General Hospital (OGH) building is concerned he said, there is a big demand to construct a new building with all the latest facilities in its place.

Earlier, MIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi pointed out that OGH building was in a sorry state with roof crumbling and leakages posing danger to doctors and patients.

He said that OGH is one of the oldest heritage structures in the Hyderabad just like Charminar and other monuments and the need of the hour is to protect it.

BJP leader Raja Singh requested chief minister to personally visit OGH to take stock of the situation.

The BJP leader requested the government to protect state hospitals like OGH, Gandhi that are mostly frequented by the poor sections.