Delhi Dy Speaker opposes ''altered'' Jama Masjid redevelopment plan

New Delhi, Jan 16 (UNI) Opposing the ''altered'' Jama Masjid development plan in old Delhi, Delhi Assembly Deputy Speaker Shoaib Iqbal today said despite being the people's representative and an MLA from the area he was not consulted on the draft.

Accusing authorities of ''over-riding'' their brief and making ''impractical changes'' in the draft which had been approved by the Delhi High Court, Mr Iqbal claimed the proposed changes could lead to severe law and order problems.

''Demolishing building around Jama Masjid to widen the road to 20 metres will lead to grave law and order problem,'' he claimed.

Warning against tampering the century-old heritage, the Dy Speaker claimed the ''new draft'' would alter the very character and composite art and architecture of the historic Jama Masjid.

''I am the area's MLA and I came to know of this secret alternate redevelopment plan through a newspaper report which was atrocious and unacceptable,'' Mr Iqbal said.

The changes, if deemed necessary, should have been discussed with all parties concerned and plans formulated than being passed surreptitously and implemented without the knowledge of others, he said.

''The new changes seem to work on the lines of commercialisation of the area than manage flow of devotees for which the redevlopment of the Masjid periphery was to be done,'' he claimed.

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