Charminar damage: ASI blames GHMC

HYDERABAD: Days after a chunk of lime stucco on the southwest minaret of Charminar fell off, Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) blamed GHMC for digging work being done around the monument, which has been causing the ground to vibrate.
Milan Kumar Chauley, ASI’s superintending archaeologist, SAID, “First, they did not consult us before starting the digging work. The pipeline is open in some places and they have not bothered to close it.”
Chauley also blamed GHMC for unabated construction near Charminar, which he says, causes vibration that is damaging the monument. “We told them that a three-storey building had been demolished in the vicinity and the ground was being dug to the extent of 10 feet. What was GHMC doing then? The digging caused vibration within 100m of the monument.”
However, GHMC refuted the ASI’s charges. “The digging work for laying storm-water drain was done 15 months ago. Claims of the ASI are baseless. The pillar was restored by ASI after the works were completed. They should have done this properly,” said Musharraf Ali Farooqi, GHMC Khairatabad zonal commissioner.