One week’s relief for all religious structures: BMC

After receiving instructions from the state government, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation has stopped the demolition drive against allegedly illegal religious structures in the city for a week.

After receiving instructions from the state government, the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stopped the demolition drive against allegedly illegal religious structures in the city for a week.

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Caretakers of all structures have to submit their legal proof within this week to the concerned ward office to prove that their structure was built prior to 1964 or be ready for demolition action.

The action has been stopped temporarily until March 18.

“We will not be taking any demolition action against any religious structure as they have been given a week’s time to submit evidence which could prove the structure is prior to April 17, 1964, a cut-off date finalised by the civic body,” said a senior civic official on the condition of anonymity as he is not authorised to comment.

On March 3, the civic administration had issued a circular saying that religious structures, which are prior to April 17, 1964, should submit their documental evidence within 15 days.

However, action will now not be initiated on those structures till the end of the stipulated period.

Civic standing committee chairman Rahul Shewale said, “In a week time, all political party leaders, led by mayor Shraddha Jadhav, will meet chief minister Prithviraj Chavan to stop the demolition of religious structures so as not to disturb law and order in the city.”

The civic body has issued notices to more than 700 religious structures and demolished more than 60 structures including temples, mosques and crosses. Many of them were built prior to 1964.