Hyderabadis raise voice to save OGH

HYDERABAD: The 'Save OGH' campaign gathered further momentum on Tuesday, with Hyderabadis taking to various platforms — both online and offline — to register their protest against the Telangana government's plan to demolish the in-patient (IP) block of the historic structure. In fact, TOI received a barrage of e-mails from concerned readers who lashed out at Team KCR for its disastrous proposition and appealed to fellow Hyderabadis to come together in preserving the city's architectural heritage.An online petition addressed to chief minister, K Chandrasekhar Rao — 'Stop Destroying Heritage Buildings' -- was also found making the rounds of social networking sites.
"A committee chaired by a qualified conservation expert must inspect the structure. I am sure the condition of the building can be improved through an efficiently planned restoration project, as was done in the case of Unani Hospital recently," wrote Madhu Vottery in an e-mail, while pointing out how OGH was an integral part of the "historic skyline of the Old City". "Also, it is a part of the heritage walks," Vottery added.
Another reader, Anand Sheelam who works as a tour guide in the state department of tourism, made similar observations, while putting forth a solution before the state authorities. "The state government can restore these buildings and let them function as hotels or offices," he said.
The feeling of helplessness was clearly evident in the voices of the common people especially, over the government's failure to conduct a thorough research before going ahead with the demolition. Referring to the "emptying" of the Hussainsagar Lake and the relocation of the Secretariat, Nrbulusu Rao said: "Now the OGH building will be vacated and part of it demolished. Every activity undertaken in the state is done as per the government's whims and fancies. Officials take major decisions without even doing their homework."
Expressing her displeasure over the government's attempts to make the city "look like the next Singapore or Malaysia", long-time Hyderabadi, Sanghamitra Malik urged citizens to join hands to save Hyderabad from being "ruthlessly wiped out".