Moazzam Jahi Market or MJ Market, one of the famous landmarks in Hyderabad,  is all set to be transformed into a cultural hub. after two-year-long restoration work. 

The majestic triangle-shaped stone structure was built in 1935 as a fruit market during the times of the seventh Nizam Mir Osman Ali Khan, the last ruler of erstwhile Hyderabad state.

At the event organised to mark the opening of the renovated MJ Market, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao said the state government would intensify its efforts in securing UNESCO's heritage city status for Hyderabad. 

Rama Rao, who is the son of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao, said the state government will do its best in restoration and conservation of heritage structures like Golconda Fort, Katora Houz and Murgi Chowk.

"The Telangana government is dedicated to preserving and showcasing the state's heritage. Hyderabad is a blend of old-world charm as well as new-age vibrancy. You can find people of all faiths, regions and states here. The city is a symbol of cosmopolitan culture of the country," he said

Heritage activists, however, say there is a contradiction between what the government says and what it is doing.

Only a few days before the restoration of MJ Market, the city lost another heritage structure. Saifabad Palace, one of the 10 blocks at the old Telangana secretariat, was demolished to make way for the construction of a new complex.

The government went ahead with the demolition of the heritage structure despite the objections raised by the concerned citizens and heritage conservationists.

Saifabad Palace, one of the finest examples of Asaf Jahi architecture, was built in 1885 by the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahabub Ali Khan, and served as the seat of power for the princely state of Hyderabad and subsequently for undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

The city convenor of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH), P. Anuradha Reddy, believes the demolition of Saifabad palace was a major blow to the heritage of Hyderabad.

The landscape of this 427-year-old city, now a leading information technology hub, has changed a lot with many heritage structures vanishing over the last few decades.
(IANS)