The return of government offices to the majestic 20th-century palace built by Sir Vicar-ul-Umra, a nobleman belonging to the Paigah family, also poses questions regarding the preservation of the heritage structure for the future.

After the US consulate moved to its new campus in the IT Corridor near Nanakramguda, the then BRS government had planned to use the premises for setting up a state museum.

There were also plans to lease out the property to run a heritage hotel earlier. However, the Congress government felt that it was in the best interest of the people to move all the HMDA offices to a central location that originally housed the organisation for over 30 years.

According to a government order released Tuesday, all offices of the HMDA that are operating out of different locations — the head office at Swarnajayanthi Complex, Ameerpet; the offices of Project Director, Outer Ring Road; Managing Director, Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) and Director Urban Forestry at HGCL office in Nanakramguda and the Buddha Purnima Project at Tank bund — will now move into the Paigah Palace in Begumpet.

This will, it said, increase the productivity of the organisation since all its offices and wings will be located in one place and also be convenient for the public as the location is in the heart of the city and accessible by different modes of transport.

Preservation of heritage through best adaptive use

Heritage activists in the city welcomed the move as the building will now be occupied and utilised instead of lying in neglect. However, they urged the authorities to carefully examine the building and prepare a set of guidelines for its best adaptive use.

Heritage activist Mohammed Safiullah said the building, left behind by the US authorities, is state-of-the-art and needs to be preserved. “It is a good move but I would prefer they take the help of an international consultant to design office spaces. They can take into account the space available and scientifically allot office spaces for best use. If it is a haphazard transfer of officials in this building, then God save the building,” said Safiullah.

Pointing out that many of the notified heritage structures have already vanished and some are on the verge of destruction due to neglect, Safiullah said by taking care of the Paigah Palace building, the government would not only promote heritage but also send out a message regarding its preservation.

Adding that many of the government offices that function from the old Nizam-era structures have been altered without keeping the heritage aspects in mind, Safiullah added that strict guidelines should be given that no major changes would be made to the building once it is occupied.

Sajjad Shahid, co-convenor of the Hyderabad chapter of INTACH (Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage) too welcomed the decision that will allow people access to the palace. “It was a HUDA office when first notified. The point is do they have the political will to preserve and protect the heritage of Hyderabad or not? It all depends on the policy of the government and their intent,” Shahid added.