THATTA, Nov 18: The work on raising the under-construction five-furlong metalled road much above ground level from traffic police chowki to Aamir stop poses grave threat to over three centuries old historic Shahjehan Masjid.
PPP MPA Humera Alwani said bureaucratic tactics might have been adopted to appease vested interests even at the cost of national heritage.
Sindh Minister for Coordination Abdul Jalil Memon said that he would not allow any damage to the historical site and was in touch with the concerned department over the issue.
When Syed Zahid Ali Shah, executive engineer, provincial buildings division, custodian department for the maintenance and renovation of the mosque was asked whether he had raised any objection with the executive engineer highways, he said that he had nothing to do with the raising of road above the ground level in front of the mosque. It is up to the government to take whatever action it considered best, he said.
Awami Tehrik chief Dada Qadir Ranto, known for his knowledge for historical sites, said the beauty of such a fascinating site should not be harmed.
He said that raising the road much above the ground level would ruin the mosque.
Assistant Engineer Highways, Thatta and Badin, Rashid Memon, said that rainwater would gush into the non-functional drainage system constructed by the district government along the mosque which would not harm the mosque’s foundation.
He said the road being constructed at a cost of Rs6.59 million would rather benefit people of Thatta. He did not answer whether the magnificent beauty of 100-dome mosque would be damaged by the construction of road.
Unfortunately, like many other historical sites, this mosque, an architectural masterpiece built by Mogul emperor Shahjehan in 1644, is already in a dilapidated condition with cracks appearing in its domes and tiles.
The buildings department does not possess the technical know-how and equipment to repair it.
Shahjehan Masjid is the only monument given in the control of the provincial buildings department. Other historical sites like Dabgir Masjid, Amirkhani Masjid, Kalankot ruins and Sonda graveyard are being looked after by the archaeology department.
Some citizens told journalists that during his visit to the mosque, provincial minister for works and communication, Manzoor Hussain Wassan, was apprised of the situation and he had mad a commitment to look into the matter.
The Thatta Historical Society and other heritage lovers have urged the authorities to assess the situation before the implementation of the road project.