The secretariat, the center of power, is one of the embellishments of the new identity
Updated: Fri, 4/28/23 at 12:51pm
by JR Janumpalli
Hyderabad: The struggle in Telangana is like an independence war for national freedom. It lasted 58 years and some 1,500 people lost their lives. Many new countries were created/reorganized after India’s independence. But no one goes through such a traumatic experience for such a long time. It needs a memorial commensurate with its sacrifice, struggle and pride. The new secretariat and the Martyrs’ Memorial Hall, which has begun to take shape, are designed to fulfill this great aspiration of the people of Telangana.
As always, opponents and opposition parties lashed out at the government. Older complexes are good for America, which has 23 districts, and as much for new states, which make up less than half, they say. But the government asserts that the current complex was built randomly at different times and lacks infrastructure such as adequate parking, fire safety and the modern features of the Secretary of State.
The idea was proposed in 2016. The government is alternatively considering finding a suitable place for the new complex at other locations such as the Chest Hospital grounds, Erram Manzil and Gymkhana grounds to avoid demolition of existing structures. But for various reasons, it didn’t happen.
Lay the foundation
Due to its central location in the city of Hyderabad and the fact that most of the complex was old and in need of demolition, the government revisited the idea of building a brand new integrated secretariat complex on the same site. The Cabinet took a decision in this regard on 19 June 2019. The foundation stone was laid on June 27. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad High Court has launched a series of public interest litigation against the government’s decision.
A ministerial subcommittee and high-powered technical committee were formed to study the condition of the old complex to make appropriate recommendations. In its report, the technical committee found that it was not possible to make any changes to the prevailing condition of the existing building.
Eight blocks were located on congested driveways, inaccessible to fire vehicles and unable to enforce fire safety measures. They observed that the Secretariat Building had 10 blocks, accommodated 445,000 square feet, and ranged in age from over 100 years to 20 years old—from dilapidated to working condition. All but two neighborhoods were reported to be in a dilapidated state. Building blocks are haphazard and scattered over 25.5 acres.
Repairing aging old buildings such as plumbing, electricity, etc. requires a lot of expenses. Not enough conference facilities, parking and green areas. If an attempt is made to repair and renovate without demolition to create space and other suitable amenities, the cost can be as good as new construction or even more.
Therefore, it is considered that it is better to demolish the existing structure and build a complex with modern facilities. The Ministerial Subcommittee agreed. The government has made a decision. The proposed seven-storey complex is estimated to cost Rs 6.5 billion.
Various PILs
The main reasons for PIL are: no need for demolition; not a priority; unilateral decision by the government and huge costs. The judge declined to interfere with the state government’s decision, saying it did not find any impropriety in the cabinet decision. It rejected separate PILs filed between 2016 and 2019. However, opposition to the new secretariat continued. The chairman of the Telangana Congress committee has gone to the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on the grounds of plausible environmental damage. The NGT considered the complaint to be without merit and dismissed his request.
Every state has a secretariat or government building that depicts the history, culture and spirit of its people. Karnataka has the grandest building of them all, built in 1956. Karnataka has no shortage of architecture in Bangalore or Mysore. Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and Tripura have beautiful secretariat buildings. Even the small states in the Northeast have beautiful government buildings that depict their architecture and culture. The Ahmedabad and Naya Raipur secretariats are modern examples of integrated secretariat buildings.
If Telangana wants to create a secretariat that portrays the nation’s architecture, culture and spirit, rather than a drab, haphazard cluster of old blocks, there’s nothing wrong with it. It is a new country and of course it needs a new identity. The Secretariat is the power center of the state government and is one of the trappings of that identity. Even the Supreme Court agreed with the High Court’s decision.
Aside from the incongruity of the old structures, there is no need for the government to live in an unpleasant place where the national identity has been trampled on for 58 years. In an independent India, it was necessary to shed its early feudal history and later neo-colonial majoritarian rule in order to breathe fresh air of political freedom into their heroically won new country, Telangana.
Essence of Telangana
Depicting Deccan-Kakatia architecture and culture, the new design expresses the essence of Telangana, complies with all the codes of the Green Building Council of India, complies with fire safety, disaster management and other mandatory regulations. It has concrete structures on 2.4 acres of its 27.5-acre campus, with the remainder dedicated to landscaping, landscaping, sidewalks, parking and other amenities. If such a prestigious structure was erected at an affordable cost to replace an old disorganized structure, there would be no reason against it.
When Andhra Pradesh is said to have spent around Rs 1,100 crore for the interim secretariat, if Telangana builds a permanent integrated secretariat building, about half of which, what is the question? Telangana needs a new government building which can also act like a monument to all the sacrifices made by its people in the long and hard struggle for political freedom.
It has now materialized, having been built in just two years. The 120-foot Ambedkar Statue and the Martyrs’ Cenotaph in front of it are beautiful additions to the New Telangana Secretariat Building. It is aptly named after Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, the founder of Article 3 of the constitution, which helped Telangana realize its long-cherished dream of an independent state, overthrowing the stubborn “Andhra and Kendra” politics.
author
