ormation of the Telangana State has definitely brought a much-needed focus on Adilabad district, but hardly anything is being done to recognise it as a haven of heritage and environment. Being aware of this, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) unit in the State has introduced a novel programme to identify and recognise heritage structures not just in Adilabad but all over the State in order to preserve the history of the given place through its old structures.
“For example, the fabulous Godavari bridge at Soan needs preservation as it tells the history of transport in the Nizam’s Hyderabad,” observed INTACH Telangana co-convenor and convenor of its Hyderabad unit, P. Anuradha Reddy. “This was the longest stone masonry bridge at that time and was a marvel in engineering,” she adds, proffering reasons for the 80-year-old bridge, not in use currently, to be preserved.
“We are forming INTACH heritage clubs in all districts in the State wherein volunteers will participate under a programme called INTACH Zilla Khazana. These volunteers will identify heritage structures which need conservation and make a catalogue for INTACH,” Ms. Reddy reveals of the activities of the Trust.
“The trust will request patrons of the INTACH clubs, generally district Collectors concerned, to support the movement like activity of the volunteers through their tourism and educational networks. Conservation and preservation of the important structures will follow with the local volunteers becoming the core of protection of the structures,” the top INTACH functionary adds of the programme.
If the plans of the INTACH bear fruit, the mighty Soan bridge, a silver model of which is present in the Purani Haveli in Hyderabad, will have a board depicting its salient points. After restoration, it could even be made into a promenade.
Ms. Reddy also expressed distraught over the way the magnificent old garhi of the Seetagondi Atram Gond kings at Utnoor was left at the mercy of vandals. The treasure trove hunters have destroyed almost everything in the garhi over a period of three decades.
“The main entrance inside the mud walled structure will also give way soon as the key stone in the structures are coming out,” Ms. Reddy pointed out during her recent visit to the garhi. “The fantastic step well also needs cleaning and restoration as it is yielding water even now,” she opined.
INTACH heritage clubs are being formed in all the districts wherein volunteers will participate under a programme called INTACH Zilla Khazana
