Govt. to challenge NMA decision to grant NoC to builder

Proposal to construct villas between Golconda and Qutb Shahi tombs

After Ramappa temple secured the Unesco World Heritage Site tag, there is growing chorus for making a case for Hyderabad with the Qutb Shahi era Golconda Fort, Qutb Shahi tombs and Charminar besides a host of other sites. The sites in Hyderabad were nominated much earlier in 2010 while the Ramappa nomination was made in 2014. Trying to keep Golconda and Qutb Shahi tombs in the reckoning, the Telangana government is securing its flanks for a watertight case. The government is challenging the decision of the National Monuments Authority (NMA) to grant no-objection certificate (NoC) to a builder for constructing villas between the Golconda Fort and the Qutb Shahi tombs complex. The State government is citing the NMA rule that automated approvals cannot be given near the site that are on Unesco Tentative List. In a counter-affidavit, which The Hindu could access, the State invoked various sections in the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act (2010) challenging the issue of NoC to the builder.