Telangana govt holds off Osmania hospital demolition, to consult all Hyderabad MLAs

The Telangana state government may soon convene a meeting with all the legislators from Hyderabad to consult them on the decision of shifting and demolition of the existing Osmania General Hospital building in the city.

Replying to a question raised by Charminar MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri, Health Minister C Laxma Reddy cited various reports which suggested that the close-to-a-century old building was structurally weak and not fit to run a regular hospital.

However, he also added that besides consulting all the city MLAs, the state also plans to take necessary permission from the Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC), a Times of India report adds. 

The Telangana government's decision to delist and demolish the IP block of the hospital, has received widespread criticism from historians and heritage experts alike.

The hospital was conceived after the Musi flood of 1908 with architect Vincent Jerome Esch, drawing up the blueprints. It was built at a cost of Rs 20 lakh at that time.

From 1921, the domes of the Osmania General Hospital have added to Hyderabad's charms, a  building standing on 26.5 acre land on the banks of river Musi.

There are 11 major blocks housing the hospital out of which eight blocks have been deemed unfit for usage at present.

Telangana chief minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had earlier called for high rises and claimed that two towers, 24 floors each, would be constructed in its place.