Health Minister Dr. Lakshma Reddy has said that the Telangana Government was yet to take a decision on demolition of old building of Osmania General Hospital.
Replying to a question raised by MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and others during Question Hour in State Legislative Assembly on Tuesday, the Minister admitted that the government was shifting the in-patients from OGH to other hospitals on the ground that the heritage building has become unsafe. He said that the JNTU experts have submitted a report on the structural stability and longevity of the heritage building.
As per the JNTUH report, the structure is Ground +2 floor was constructed more than 95 years ago. The roof surface is severely cracked leading to penetration of water into the slab. Due to low tensile strength of wood, such yielding in the wood may lead to sudden collapse without warning. Stating that demolition of the structure would be the last resort, he said efforts would be made to restore the heritage building. He said a final decision in this regard would be taken after conducting a meeting with city MLAs.
The Minister said that a new building with all the modern facilities is being planned for construction in place of old one after heritage clearance committee.
Speaking on the issue, MIM MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri said that OGH was one of the oldest buildings of Hyderabad and therefore, it should not be demolished. He said that building could survive for two more centuries with proper restoration. (INN)