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This comes after neglect of the nearly 400-year-old Mecca Masjid came under media focus. Media reports indicated revelation of the weather-beaten look of the monument - its roof leaking from various places, cracks on the walls, weeds and small plants sprouting from the domes.
The historic mosque which remained under the endowment department for decades is now looked after by the ministry of minority welfare. While the government allocated a total of Rs 65 lakh for its upkeep a few years ago, it has so far released only Rs 18 lakh.
Director of department of archeology and museum Chenna Reddy informed that he had written a letter to the minorities welfare department seeking release of funds amounting to Rs 34 lakh to complete the works. But there was no response. “We won’t be able to take up chemical cleaning of the mosque until the government releases funds,” he said.
He also informed that the chemical cleaning of the structure had been cleared after 15 years. But since February, the department could clean up only one third of the structure.
A mosque official said that about 10,000 people offer prayers daily at the mosque during Ramadan. As the monsoons are generally active in August the worshippers could face problems, the official feared.
