Hyderabad: While refusing any interim order, Telangana high court on Wednesday said it will continue hearing public interest litigation (PIL) petitions seeking directions to stay the ongoing Hyderabad Airport Metro Works (Metro Rail Phase II) “to come to a considered opinion”. The case has been adjourned to Aug 27.The PIL alleged that the Metro works on the MGBS-Chandrayangutta route have been affecting several religious and historical structures, including the centuries-old Akkanna Madanna temple in the Old City, even as govt maintained that the route passes over the structures and the claims made by the petitioners were false. Govt also informed that the Supreme Court had also refused to interfere in the matter and dismissed the petitions.Immaneni Rama Rao, counsel for petitioner Act Public Welfare Foundation, contended that without obtaining permissions from the yet-to-be-constituted committee, authorities have taken up works, resulting in damage to heritage structures that are clearly in the precincts of the project.He also submitted photographs to the bench as evidence to support his claims and urged the court to appoint an advocate commissioner to inspect the ongoing works and verify if they were affecting any heritage structures.However, state govt clarified that demolition or acquisition of heritage structures for the metro project would be carried out only after completing the due legal process.Senior counsel Mohd Imran Khan, appearing for state govt, submitted that the petitioners were portraying all 102 heritage structures along the Metro route as being at risk, whereas the project actually impacts only three heritage buildings, while the remaining heritage structures have no connection to the Metro construction.Noting the extensive documentation, affidavits and photographs on record, the bench observed that ”a comprehensive review of the entire record is necessary before reaching a final decision”.
