Mumbai: Illegal shed over grotto demolished in Chakala

Ten days after the civic body issued a notice to a Vailankanni grotto in Bamanwada in Chakala, the residents of the area have removed an extension built around the structure.

Ten days after the civic body issued a notice to a Vailankanni grotto in Bamanwada in Chakala, the residents of the area have removed an extension built around the structure.

The shed being removed. (HT)

The decision to pull down the shelter was made in a meeting with assistant municipal commissioner Devendra Kumar Jain held on July 17.

The grotto falls under category B (illegal religious structures to be demolished or shifted). According to a 2011 Supreme Court order, if such structures are not modified or shifted, they must be demolished.

READ: Mumbai civic officials to visit six illegal shrines with residents before taking action

“We realised the shed of the grotto was affecting the flow of traffic in the area. In public interest, we demolished the shelter,” said Nicholas Almeida, trustee, Watchdog Foundation.

Five other holy crosses were also issued notices by the Andheri municipal office on July 15. But two days later, the Gundavali residents associations and catholics said the cross in their locality fell under category A (religious structures that cannot be demolished). They said they are willing to relocate the other four crosses and have spoken to the authorities to provide locations for these structures.

The BMC has until November 2017 to demolish illegal shrines in the city, a deadline set by the Bombay high court. While 221 shrines fall under category A, 482 other structures fall under category B. Of these, 210 have been demolished so far and 46 holy crosses were issued notices.