HYDERABAD: Sindh Building Control Authority (SBCA) regional office has finally stayed construction on a 481-5 sq-yds plot within the Pucca Qila archaeological site. Such communication has been sent to the culture department, besides owner of the property.

The construction was stayed a few days back through a letter informing the property owner that it (SBCA) had received multiple letters on the issue from the departments concerned.

A deputy director of SBCA’s City taluka has mentioned that this office had approved the building plan for basement-plus-ground & two-floor building on the plot No. 2727/1 within fort area.

He said that letters were received from the archaeology department mentioning that the “Fort is a significant historical landmark and valuable part of our cultural heritage. Section 22 of Antiquities Act 1972 explicitly prohibits any construction or demolition work within a 200ft radius of such protected sites as technical committee of culture, tourism, antiquities and archives department is reluctant to allow the same”.

The property owner was told: “You are directed to stop all construction activities at site till matter is decided accordingly”.

Meanwhile, additional Hyaderabad Deputy Commissioner Gada Hussain Soomro has also called for appointment of technical team comprising experts to conduct a joint survey of the site, map the 200ft radius from Pucca Qila’s protected wall using precise tools and determine whether property lies inside or outside this limit, and submit a report with findings and recommendations.

Such letter is addressed to the director, settlement survey & land records; Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) director, planning & development control; and assistant director Pucca Fort of the Archaeology.

City Taluka Assistant Commissioner Babar Saleh had written to the Hyderabad DC to seek formation of such technical committee having representatives from survey experts, archaeological representative, urban planning authority member and an independent consultant to hold survey of the site and map 200ft radius from Fort’s protected wall.

The AC informed the DC that SBCA’s deputy director through a letter dated Dec 30, 2024 had sought updated list of heritage buildings; clarification regarding 200ft radius of such protected sites; and gazette notification issued by Sindh government specifying restrictions for construction within 200ft radius of heritage sites. He said that information sought by SBCA was essential to determine whether construction on said plot falls within the restricted radius of a protected heritage site so that matter could be processed further.

Construction work on said plot was a few days back stopped by the City AC under directives of the Hyderabad DC on the ground that plot lies within the radius of 200ft benchmark set under the Antiquities Act, 1975. The property owner had claimed that he was singled out by culture department as similar construction was raised on different plots within the same radius in the fort.

Published in Dawn, January 13th, 2025