Heritage Activists demand cleanup for Golconda Fort’s Moti Darwaza
Hyderabad: Historic Moti Darwaza of Golconda Fort is being neglected and turned into a dumping yard, raising significant concerns among heritage activists. The area around the iconic Moti Darwaza, a prominent feature of the Golconda Fort, has been filled with debris and garbage, leading activists to appeal to Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and MP Asaduddin Owaisi to address the issue.
Speaking to the Hyderabad Mail, Syed Meraj Nawab, a heritage activist, expressed frustration at the ongoing neglect. “The historic Moti Darwaza and its wall have repeatedly become a dumping ground. Despite raising this issue with officials, no effective action has been taken to restore and maintain the site,” Syed said.
He further noted, “This is a notified heritage property, and the ASI has established regulations prohibiting construction within 100 meters of historical sites. Yet, irresponsible individuals continue to throw debris and garbage in front of the Moti Darwaza wall. Although the matter has been brought to the attention of authorities multiple times, the situation remains unchanged.”
Syed has called on the relevant authorities to take immediate action to address the issue and ensure the preservation of this historic site.
The problem was initially highlighted by Syed Meraj Nawab on X (formerly Twitter), who tagged MP Asaduddin Owaisi in a post. Syed’s tweet read, “The condition of the iconic Golconda Fort walls is deeply concerning. The area inside and outside the Moti Darwaza resembles a dump yard. It is distressing to see such neglect. Please look into this matter and ensure the site is properly maintained.”
I have seen the picture you provided. It seems your team has only removed the garbage from the road. However, the major concern is that people continue to throw debris in front of and near the historic wall ensure that the debris is removed from both inside and outside the wall pic.twitter.com/JZXaJhLD25
— Syed Meraj Nawab (@nawab_meraj) August 31, 2024
In response, a sanitation official from Karwan Circle No. 18 stated, “The complaint has been attended to and cleared, sir.” However, Syed pointed out that while garbage from the road had been removed, significant debris still remains near the historic wall. He highlighted the need for thorough cleaning both inside and outside the wall to prevent ongoing dumping.
Further concerns were raised by Asif Ali Khan, another X user, who tagged the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in his post. Asif Ali Khan criticised the presence of 450-year-old cables, which he claimed were installed for the Qutub Shahi rulers, and expressed shame over the neglect of the historic fortification walls.
