Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mohammed Mahmood Ali assured that best arrangements would be made for the ensuing Moharrum next month in Hyderabad and in all the districts of the Telangana State.
Addressing a review meeting on the Moharrum arrangements in the Secretariat on Thursday, the Deputy CM said that he, along with higher officials, would soon visit the Aashoorkhanas in the city and take note of the situation. He agreed with the proposals for enhancement of grant-in-aid of Rs. 5.5 lakhs each for repairs and maintenance of the Aashoorkhanas in the State and assured that he, along with Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, would meet Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and represent the matter. He expressed hope that the Chief Minister would readily agree to solve all the issues and problems being faced by the Shia community in observing Moharrum.
Mahmood Ali instructed the officials to make a survey of the Aashoorkhanas to identify the works that need to be completed. He said that the GO for allotment of an elephant from the Zoo Park would be issued at the earliest and the trial of the elephant would be made twice on the route of the procession besides its trial walk in the zoo premises.
MIM MLC Syed Altaf Haider Razvi made certain important representations regarding Moharrum arrangements.
On this occasion, Congress leader Shameem Agha announced to donate 800 sq. Yards of land behind Alawa Sartouq, Darul Shifa in old city for construction of a guest House for the mourners coming from the districts. The Deputy CM welcomed the gesture and said the measures would be taken for its construction.
Home Minister Narasimha Reddy instructed the electricity officials to ensure uninterrupted power supply in the old city particularly during Moharrum and other festivals, and also special arrangements be made during night hours. He assured that police department would provide full protection to the Moharrum procession.
Earlier Minorities Welfare Department Secretary Syed Omer Jaleel said that the Government had allocated an amount of Rs. 53 crores for repairs and maintenance of Mosques and Aashoorkhanas. Last year an amount of Rs. 68.55 lakhs were released to the district collectors for repair of 15 Aashoorkhanas. During the current year 18 proposals to the tune of Rs. 1.1 crores are in circulation.
BJP MLA G. Kishan Reddy proposed to sanction honorarium to the Mutawwlis of the Aashoorkhanas on the lines of Imam and Mouzzins of mosques. He urged for proper sanitation and electricity arrangements during Moharrum.
Representatives of different parties and senior officials of various departments were present in the meeting. (INN)