Mosque being readied for Ramzan

This Ramzan, the Mecca Masjid will turn into a surveillance fortress with the installation of dozens of new high-definition IP cameras in the premises and its periphery. This follows a visit by top police officials who recommended enhanced security measures in the religious precinct near Charminar.

“There will be around 43 closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras, including seven with 360 degrees views and 36 stationary ones. The bomb blast that took place here 10 years ago has been a key factor in improving the security in these premises,” said Khadeer Siddiqui, superintendent of Mecca Masjid.

The cameras will be permanently stationed here with monitoring facility at the mosque as well as the police control room.

The Mecca Masjid has been given several grants for conservation of the 400-year-old monument. “All steps are being taken to ensure that Ramzan prayers are held without any hitch. We are using chemicals to clean up the ablution tank. The lighting arrangement is complete. As it is summer, we have arranged additional covered space for the faithful outside the main mosque hall,” Mr. Siddiqui said.

On Wednesday, workers were busy removing the small seating spaces around the ablution tank to be replaced with new ones just in time for Ramzan.

Inside the main hall of the mosque, the covering on the massive chandeliers will be removed over the next two days to test and light them up for the first day of Ramzan.

Conservation effort

A massive conservation effort is on the cards with the State government granting ₹8.48 crore for conserving the monument. An additional ₹1 crore has been granted by the chairman of Waqf Committee. “Though the mosque looks fine, it needs repairs on the ceiling as there are leakages during monsoon. We have entrusted the task of carrying on the conservation work to a conservation architect and the work will begin after Ramzan,” said Mr. Siddiqui.

The mosque, with a sanctioned strength of 24 staffers, has eight vacancies. These will be filled to ensure its smooth functioning.