We refer to the meeting held on 27.2.08 in the office of the Chief Secretary to discuss what should be done about the G Block. ( Saifabad palace). We have not so far received the minutes of the meeting. We recall ( a) The meeting noted the Hon’ble High Court’s judgment dated 31.12.04 “In case the Committee expresses opinion to include it in the heritage buildings, it will be for the Government to take steps to amend the notification.” (b) The Heritage Conservation Committee has since advised the government of its recommendation to include the ‘G’ Block building in the Secretariat in the list of notified heritage buildings. (c) A committee of engineers appointed by the state government stated that it will not be worthwhile saving the building considering the high cost of preservation .

During the discussions it emerged that the engineers do not state that the building could not be saved; they only referred to the cost of saving. On questioning they opined that the building could still be preserved

It was also noted that the Heritage Conservation Committee, to whom the report of the committee of engineers was referred to by HUDA earlier, had reiterated their recommendation that the G Block should and can be preserved, and had noted that the committee of engineers had never stated in their report that the building was not capable of preservation, but the committee of engineers had only referred to the cost of preservation. Historic buildings should be considered for protection not on the basis of the cost of preservation or its use but its historical, architectural, associational and other values which abound in the G Block.

The meeting was participated in by Chairman, and members of the Heritage Conservation Committee, ,Forum For A Better Hyderabad, INTACH, HUDA , Principal Secretaries of GAD, MAU & D, TR & B. concerned departmental engineers (R & B ). Speakers after speakers from the Heritage Conservation Committee, ,Forum For A Better Hyderabad, INTACH, stressed the values of the G Block and opined unambiguously for its conservation. It was further stressed that the building was owned by the government, and the A.P government was a pioneer in framing heritage regulations and it should show an example in protecting a building with heritage qualities which belongs to it, as an eye opener to the private owners of heritage buildings It is also noted that the engineers or any department of the government did not contradict that the building was capable of being saved.

Considering all of the above discussions, we conclude that the meeting was in favour of the preservation of the G Block. Accordingly, we earnestly request the government to preserve the building and notify it as a heritage building, thereby honouring the wishes of all and the sentiments of the Honourable High Court. . There should be no reason for any further delay in taking the decision to preserve the building and such delay will only add to the cost of preservation