Ali believes weak monuments like Charminar should be demolished as such structures pose threat to life
Hyderabad : While the union government spends thousands of crores of rupees every year for protecting historical monuments and structures, deputy chief minister of Telangana, Mehmood Ali strongly believes such structures should rather be pulled down.
The number two in the state cabinet also said if the icon of Hyderabad 421 years old ‘Charminar turns weak, it too will be demolished,’ reported ANI on Saturday. Ali remarked, “If Charminar becomes weak after 200-500 years, it will have to be demolished too.
After becoming weak, it can fall any time and people may lose their lives.”
While pointing out that after spending 100 crore rupees on the Osmania General Hospital, the government will only get a warranty for 8-10 years, Ali said, “Instead of spending 100 crore rupees from the taxpayers’ money and demolishing it 10 years later, we are turning it into a good hospital.” When asked about turning the structure into a museum, Ali asked, “Where are we going to build a dawakhana? Do we want a museum or medical treatment?”
He further said, “If we change its name, then people will definitely raise objection. But we are not changing its name”. The Osmania General Hospital was built in 1919 and designed by British architect Vincent Jerome Esch. Hyderabad, which is 424-years-old, is dotted with such structures..
