HYDERABAD, Feb 15: The Hyderabad chapter of Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) would organise a "Save Hyderabad Rally" on February 25 and a convention in the first week of March to protest against worsening civic conditions in the historic city, said JI leaders on Thursday.

JI leaders Abdul Waheed Qureshi, Shaikh Shoukat Ali, Dr Fawad Ahmed and Rao Masood Ali Khan said at a news conference at the press club that the entire district faced what they called ‘multi-dimensional problems’ giving a look of Moenjodaro. Mr Qureshi said that people had hoped their city become more beautiful after it was downsized but their hopes were soon shattered when they saw almost all the roads and streets being dug up on the pretext of development.

Dust was blowing everywhere causing difficulties to people suffering from asthma, allergies, chest and eye diseases, he said and added that the shabby sanitary conditions had led to malaria, and consumption of contaminated water had caused an increase in hepatitis and diarrhoea.

He said that the district government had made no proper planning prior to digging up roads for development works, which had also dealt a blow to trade and commerce activities.

Mr Qureshi charged that substandard material was being used in laying sewers, which were likely to get chocked soon after they were completed. Instead of scraping off the old roads, layer after layer had been spread on them making them higher than the houses and shops. In the event of rains water would flow directly into the houses and shops along the roads, he said.