Move to renovate city tomb faces resistance

A move by the US Consulate to renovate Maa Laqa tomb (popularly called Chandabibi tomb), belonging to an orthodox Shia woman of 1,500 A.D, at Moula Ali has run into trouble.

Not only are the locals resisting the move, it is learnt that the representatives

of the Consulate were allegedly threatened against taking up any works.

The issue came to light after US Consul General Cornelis Keur brought the matter to the notice of Minister for Tourism & Culture J Geeta Reddy on Sunday.

It is learnt that the Consulate has taken up restoration of the project by creating a separate fund following the efforts of a US scribe who visited the tomb five years ago.

“The journalist took a video of the dilapidated monument during his visit.

Later, we came to know that he had pursued the matter with the US  administration and succeeded in obtaining a grant for restoration works. The proposal, involving crores of rupees, aims to convert the place into a good picnic spot,’’ Kamran Hasan Razvi, a local, said.

Apart from the tomb, a mosque and an ashoorkhana exist on the three-acre site. It is being alleged that some vested interests, in order to retain their control on the property, are opposing the renovation move.

 The Nizam Trust, which owns the property, has already given its consent for the tomb restoration. However, a lessee of the property, who is fighting a court case with the Trust over lease rights, has reportedly raised objections.

Recently, a team of the US Consulate that visited the monument was allegedly

threatened by some locals against taking up any work.

The Consulate authorities took up the matter with the Cyberabad police

and also Minister Geeta Reddy who is said to have directed Tourism Secretary Jayesh Ranjan to look into the matter immediately.

Jayesh Ranjan on Tuesday held consultations on the issue with senior officials,

including Cyberabad Police Commissioner S Prabhakar Reddy, HMDA Commissioner BP Acharya, Ranga Reddy Collector M Danakishore, Director of Archaeology & Museums P Chenna Reddy and the CEO of Wakf Board.

“We received a representation from the US Consulate about the resistance from the locals. On the same issue we were asked to attend a meeting called by Tourism department,’’ Alwal Deputy Commissioner of Police A Chandra Sekhar Reddy said.

According to a member of the Centre for Deccan Studies (CDS), Sajjad, the quantum of US grant is yet to be finalised.