TS Govt to call for fresh tenders for 'Garden View Wakf Mall' at Haj House

HYDERABAD: Advisor to the Government of Telangana (SC, ST, BC & Minorities) Mohammed Ali Shabbir on Wednesday announced that the State Government would invite fresh tenders to complete the construction of the 'Garden View Wakf Mall,' which had been pending for the last 17 years.

Shabbir Ali addressed the media after conducting a review meeting with officials of the Minorities Welfare Department, Telangana State Wakf Board, and Haj Committee at the Haj House, Nampally, on Wednesday.

He informed that the foundation for the Garden View Wakf Mall was laid on February 22, 2009, on the land adjacent to Haj House at Nampally, acquired for Rs 22 crore in 2005. He claimed that the construction of two cellars and 7 floors was completed during the previous Congress regime. However, he noted that the works remained incomplete in the last 10 years.

Shabbir Ali directed the officials to invite fresh tenders to complete the project. He mentioned that the 'Garden View Wakf Mall' would include a restaurant and other offices. It would be used to accommodate Haj pilgrims for one month every year. In the remaining 11 months, the building would be utilised for other purposes, including providing boarding facilities to students who come from far off to study for Civil Services and other exams.

He also informed that arrears of Rs 7.35 crore had been released towards the honorarium for 13,735 Imams and Muezzins across Telangana State. He added that the arrears of one more month were pending and will be released soon.

Shabbir Ali also said that elaborate arrangements were being made for the Haj season 2024. He said that nearly 10,000 Haj pilgrims, including those from neighboring Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Andhra Pradesh, would leave for the holy journey from the Hyderabad Embarkation Point.

Regarding the Wakf Board, he mentioned that a detailed review meeting would be held soon to study the status of Wakf properties in Telangana. Furthermore, he stated that the vacancies in the Wakf Board, including 317 Wakf Inspectors’ posts, would be filled within a year in a phased manner.

Shabbir Ali stated that efforts would be made to implement Urdu as the second official language in Telangana by providing the required funds and manpower.

Stating that that the portfolio of Minorities' Welfare was being held by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy himself, he said that the present Congress Govt would ensure properly implementation of welfare schemes.