Activists urge Telangana govt to save Musi river’s architectural legacy
Hyderabad: As the Telangana government is committed to transform Musi river into a freshwater river under the Musi river rejuvenation project, the environmentalists have requested it to conserve heritage structures along the Musi river and also preserve the rich legacy of the unique water management system.
The heritage structures along the Musi river which snakes through the 435-year-old Hyderabad city, include stone walls, which were constructed for embankment, gazing towers and arch-style bridges.
In 1908 when the devastating floods ravaged parts of the city, the then administration engaged the services of famous civil engineer Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya. He devised an excellent flood mitigation system and water management system for the city by channelising the water flow to two upstream reservoirs Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar and a network chain of lakes.
Noted social activist Dr Lubna Sarwath urged the government to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) based on local wisdom to adopt an inclusive approach to preserve all the heritage associated with Musi river.
She pointed out that arch-typed bridges, stoned walls constructed for embankment of Musi river and river water viewing towers along the river are integral to the visual landscape of Hyderabad city.
Tavernier, a French traveler in the 17th century, was so impressed with the architectural beauty of the Puranapool and Nayapool bridges that he compared Puranapool to Paris’s Pont Neuf, highlighting its aesthetic significance.
Such comparisons indicate that these structures were not only functional but also integral to the rich heritage beauty of Hyderabad city, she said.
