Permanent museum to exhibit Nizam's jewellery at Hyderabad

Hyderabad, Mar 13 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Tourism Minister Dr J Geeta Reddy today informed the Assembly that the state government was making efforts to set up a permanent museum to exhibit the precious jewellery of the erstwhile Nizams of Hyderabad.

Replying to a question by Malreddy Ranga Reddy of the Congress during Question Hour, he said the state government was looking for a place suitable and acceptable to the Centre to preserve the invaluable jewellery from the security angle.

Earlier, the Congress member said the Nizam's jewellery worth over Rs 25,000 crore reflected the heritage of the region and was of historical importance. People should be allowed to see them. The Nizam was using a 184-carat diamond valued at Rs 400 crore as a paper weight! A Sarpatti (head gear) of 510 carats and studded with 30 emeralds and 90 diamonds was among the collection, he added.

While appreciating the member's concern, the Minister said the state government had requested the Union Government to constitute a committee comprising representatives of the Central and State security agencies to locate a suitable place for exhibiting the jewellery. The government too was keen on exhibiting the jewellery rather than allowing it to remain in the RBI vaults in Mumbai.

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