HYDERABAD: Wary of triggering communal tension in the Old City, the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) has turned down the request from the trustees of the Bhagyalakshmi temple abutting the Charminar to conduct repairs to the disputed structure. 

The temple authorities have sought to change the tarpaulin sheets along with flex signage above the temple and according to Shashikala, a temple trustee, both the temporary shelter, including the tarpaulin sheets and the signage had worn out on account of heavy rains. They fear that water would seep into the temple from the roof and hamper the puja and festivities on the final day of Bonalu. But any move to allow construction will anger Muslim groups, experts said.

The Bhagyalakshmi temple issue had sparked off communal tension in the Old City for weeks last November which led to the Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (MIM) party, the biggest representative group of Muslims in the state, breaking ties with the ruling Congress party after prolonged sporadic incidents of clashes between two communities were reported from many areas.

ASI superintending archaeologist R Krishnaiah said they were following the directive of the high court, which has banned any new construction activity at the dispute zone to ensure safety of the Charminar. "Your request will not be considerable and you are advised not to take up such works without obtaining prior permission from this office," said the July 11 letter to the temple authorities.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Charminar conservation assistant Kutumba Rao well as the Charminar station house officer S Mohan Kumar. "There is no question of granting permission when the matter is pending in court. Status quo has to be maintained," Krishnaiah told TOI on Monday.

When contacted, Shashikala denied having received a response from the ASI. "I haven't got any response from the department. I had written to them as the shed and plastic sheets have worn out due to rains and wind," she said.