Work to demolish parts of minaret deferred by AMC

The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation on Tuesday deferred the worked to remove dangerous parts of a minaret of 490-year-old Ek Toda Masjid near Rabarivas in Raipur area of the city. Top of the 82-feet high minaret was damaged on Saturday due to lightning.

Pirzada Saiyad Naiyar Ahmed alias Sadik Ali Hasan Ali Gausee Shattari, the sole trustee of the mosque said staff of AMC and the fire brigade had come to remove the parts of the mosque that hung dangerously and posed a threat to residents in nearby localities.

However, after a phone call that heritage department of AMC will take necessary steps, the dismantling of the structure was deferred. PVK Nair, deputy general manager (heritage projects) at AMC said the structure is listed as a heritage property and certain parts of its minarets were hanging dangerously and were removed.

Still, the structure poses a threat to local residents in case of heavy rainfall or strong winds. Nair, however, said that the structure is in private possession and as of now there are no rules to restore them. Pirzada said his great grandfathers had constructed the mosque.