Syed Mohammad Haider Rizvi—a renowned lawyer of the state and a leading figure in the battle to preserve heritage sites—has filed a request under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, demanding that the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) and the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) immediately provide details regarding the ongoing construction activities at the Rumi Gate, Asifi Mosque, and the surrounding areas in Husainabad.

Prior to this, taking cognizance of Lucknow’s eroding heritage, Mohammad Haider not only filed a writ petition in the Allahabad High Court but also played a pivotal role in the reconstruction of the Husainabad Gate and the Sibtainabad Imambara Gate, both of which had suddenly collapsed.

Indeed, the restoration of these two structures is a direct result of his efforts; while the Archaeological Survey of India reconstructed the Sibtainabad Gate, the three gates of the Chhota Imambara are currently being restored by INTACH. Mohammad Haider Rizvi’s writ petition remains pending in the High Court, and it is hoped that, through this legal avenue, the government, the Husainabad Trust, and the ASI will complete the remaining restoration works.

It is worth noting that, recently, the Lucknow Development Authority had arbitrarily commenced the construction of a parking facility on the land of the Asifi Mosque.

Furthermore, the proposed construction of a project dubbed “Laziz Gali”—situated in the vicinity of the world-renowned Rumi Gate—has sparked outrage among heritage enthusiasts.