A delegation from the Joint Action Committee for the Protection of Tadbund Graveyard Secunderabad Cantonment met with Member of Parliament (MP) Asaduddin Owaisi on 2nd January 2025 to voice concerns over the impact of the proposed Double-Decker Elevated Corridor project, which is set to affect two significant Muslim graveyards in the region.
The project, designed to stretch from Paradise Circle to Dairy Farm Road, has raised alarm over the encroachment on sacred burial sites. According to the Hyderabad Gazette Notification, the Tadbund Graveyard is slated to lose 4,400 square yards of land, while the Bowenpally Graveyard, another key Muslim cemetery, will lose 3,900 square yards. Both graveyards contain numerous graves, making their preservation critical for the local Muslim community.
During the meeting, MP Asaduddin Owaisi assured the Joint Action Committee that he would take appropriate steps to address the issue. Recognizing the sensitivity of the matter, Owaisi emphasized the importance of preserving these graveyards, which hold cultural and religious significance for the Muslim community in Secunderabad and its surroundings.
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In addition to his personal commitment, Owaisi directed the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Telangana State Waqf Board to take immediate action. He instructed the Waqf Board to send official notifications and representations to key stakeholders, including the Chief Minister, the Roads and Buildings Department, and the Land Acquisition Department, to ensure consultations are held for the protection and preservation of the graveyards.
The issue has sparked widespread concern among residents and activists, as both graveyards hold historical importance for the Muslim community in the region. The loss of these burial grounds due to urban development has raised questions about the balance between infrastructure development and the safeguarding of cultural heritage.
The Joint Action Committee has vowed to continue its efforts in ensuring the graveyards are not encroached upon and that the affected communities’ religious and cultural values are respected.
MP Owaisi’s intervention is seen as a crucial step in advocating for the rights of the Muslim community, and his support has brought attention to the need for a more thorough consultation process before any irreversible decisions are made regarding these sacred spaces.
The case underscores the larger issue of land acquisition and its impact on religious sites, especially within urban areas, highlighting the need for a comprehensive and inclusive approach to development that takes into account the preservation of cultural and religious heritage.
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