Mohammed Younus
With the State Department of Archaeology and Museums turning a blind eye to the upkeep of the Mecca Masjid near Charminar here, huge cracks have developed at several spots on the outer walls of the hallowed 17th century stone structure.
Bushy outgrowths from crevices on the walls of the main structure have remained unattended for a long time.
The flooring of the mosque is also not being maintained properly, and there are breakages at different places. The Mecca Masjid, apart from its historical significance, is also a tourist spot. Tourists who see Charminar make it a point to visit the mosque. Still, neither the Tourism Department nor the Archaeological Department seems to be interested in the well-being of the mosque’s appearance and structure.
A city-based lawyer and social activist Syed Shafiullah Quadri, who had filed an RTI application in the Archaeology Department with certain queries, was shocked to know that the bore well in the foreground of the mosque was dug without permission. Most of the questions in the RTI application remained unanswered in the ‘reply’ given by the department. He said that the Archaeology and Museum Department officials were giving specious reasons for ignoring upkeep of the mosque.
He said that the mosque’s structure was now in danger from the standpoints of architecture, appearance and maintenance. Cracks, wild bushes on walls, lack of sanitation, and official apathy were the major challenges facing the Mecca Masjid. Ironically, the repair works that took place during the last year went wrong and the paint that was used to colour the walls was posing a serious threat to the stone alignment.
A fact-finding committee formed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) found that the lack of chemical coating of the outside stones was decaying the stones. Officials from the Department of Archaeology and Museum said that the mosque was under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister’s Office and that lack of proper staff in the department was impeding the department from proper upkeep at various archaeological structures, including Mecca Masjid.
The 17th century structure is a listed site, along with other historic landmarks such as Chowmahalla Palace, Charminar and Laad Bazar. The fifth Golconda ruler Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah constructed the mosque and its construction ended in the year 1694.
With the State Department of Archaeology and Museums turning a blind eye to the upkeep of the Mecca Masjid near Charminar here, huge cracks have developed at several spots on the outer walls of the hallowed 17th century stone structure.
Bushy outgrowths from crevices on the walls of the main structure have remained unattended for a long time.
A city-based lawyer and social activist Syed Shafiullah Quadri, who had filed an RTI application in the Archaeology Department with certain queries, was shocked to know that the bore well in the foreground of the mosque was dug without permission. Most of the questions in the RTI application remained unanswered in the ‘reply’ given by the department. He said that the Archaeology and Museum Department officials were giving specious reasons for ignoring upkeep of the mosque.
He said that the mosque’s structure was now in danger from the standpoints of architecture, appearance and maintenance. Cracks, wild bushes on walls, lack of sanitation, and official apathy were the major challenges facing the Mecca Masjid. Ironically, the repair works that took place during the last year went wrong and the paint that was used to colour the walls was posing a serious threat to the stone alignment.
A fact-finding committee formed by the Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) found that the lack of chemical coating of the outside stones was decaying the stones. Officials from the Department of Archaeology and Museum said that the mosque was under the direct supervision of the Chief Minister’s Office and that lack of proper staff in the department was impeding the department from proper upkeep at various archaeological structures, including Mecca Masjid.
The 17th century structure is a listed site, along with other historic landmarks such as Chowmahalla Palace, Charminar and Laad Bazar. The fifth Golconda ruler Mohammed Quli Qutub Shah constructed the mosque and its construction ended in the year 1694.
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