Hyderabad: A PIL has been filed before the Telangana High Court challenging the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II, Corridor-VI alignment within the Charminar and Falaknuma heritage precincts.
Rahim Khan, president of an NGO, Act Public Welfare Foundation (APWF). filed the PIL, requesting the court to direct the authorities to stall the project, until a comprehensive heritage impact assessment was conducted by an expert body and obtain statutory approvals as per the Telangana Heritage Act and Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act 1958.
The petitioner requested the court to direct the authorities to explore alternative alignments to prevent adverse impact on heritage structures such as Purani Haveli, Azakhana-e-Zehra, Jama Masjid, Darulshifa, and Moghalpura Tomb. The petitioner also sought reinstatement of Regulation 13 of the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) Zoning Regulations, 1981, or an equivalent regulatory provision to safeguard Hyderabad’s historical sites.
It also called for the constitution of an independent committee comprising heritage conservation experts, urban planners, environmental specialists, and community representatives to oversee statutory and judicial heritage conservation mandates.
The PIL was listed on Tuesday for hearing before a division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara. Following a request from the petitioner`s counsel for time to submit details, the court adjourned the PIL to March 18.
