In a move to preserve a historical monument of religious importance activists in Hyderabad launched
the ‘Save Mecca Masjid’ campaign on Wednesday.
The campaign is aimed at highlighting the need to restore the 400-year-old iconic masjid. Heritage activists have pointed out the negligence in the maintenance of the monument such as dilapidated walls, leakage of roofs etc.
Mecca Masjid, a 17th-century monument, is one of Hyderabad's oldest structures and stands just a few metres away from the city's iconic Charminar.
Activists gathered at the Media Plus auditorium to highlight the urgent need to restore the site that is also of architectural and archaeological importance. Aziz Pasha, MP, Hamid Mohammed Khan, president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (Telangana and Odisha), Captain L Pandu Ranga Reddy and Dr Chiranjeevi, who were present at the venue, have appealed to the governments to take measures to protect the monument Times of India reported.
Stating that the Mecca Masjid is the pride of Hyderabad and Telangana, Captain Pandu Ranga Reddy demanded that the state government sanction Rs 150 crores for the restoration and maintenance of the monument.
A portion of the Masjid’s Masjid's Shahi Mausoleum was damaged after Hyderabad saw heavy rains in July this year, TNM reported.
However, Qadeer Siddiqui, superintendent of Mecca Masjid, had downplayed the incident while speaking to TNM, saying, "It can't be repaired right now. They have included the repair of the tombs, under the larger plan to repair the masjid. The government has granted funds worth Rs 8.48 crore for this."