‘Demolition of religious structures to continue’

Remaining firm on its stand, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), till Monday, demolished 55 religious structures built after 1964.

Remaining firm on its stand, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), till Monday, demolished 55 religious structures built after 1964.

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The BMC plans to continue with its action, only giving the caretakers of the religious structures — who claim it was built prior to 1964 — time till March 17 to submit proofs for it. The BMC had issued notices to over 700 religious structures in the city and suburbs.

Said, additional municipal commissioner, Mohan Adtani: “All religious structures built prior to April 17, 1964, will be considered tolerable. The caretakers would have to submit the documents proving that the shrines were built before the deadline.”

On Friday, all the political parties had demanded that BMC action against the shrines should be stopped. The issue was also raised in the civic standing committee meeting. “If the BMC has demolished any structure they will allocate a new spot where the structure can be rebuilt,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader Ashish Shelar demanded the BMC fix December 7, 2009, the date on which the Supreme Court passed the order with regard to the shrines, as the cut-off date. The BMC rubbished the plea stating that they have already sought the government nod for the deadline.