State revises notice, to go easy on illegal shrines

Taking a soft stand on the issue of illegal shrines, the state has chalked out a revised notification, by which most of the shrines on the footpath will be shielded from demolition.

Taking a soft stand on the issue of illegal shrines, the state has chalked out a revised notification, by which most of the shrines on the footpath will be shielded from demolition.

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Under the notification, dated June 8, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been asked to classify structures under three categories. Those constructed prior to May 1960 will not be demolished, those constructed later but important to an area will be demolished after an alternative place is allotted to the shrine and those constructed after September 2009 can be demolished after serving a notice.

"The policy aims to go soft on the sensitive issue as most shrines in the city belong to the first two categories. If the state had not made the policy, they would have invited contempt of the Supreme Court," said a senior civic official.

On Monday, all political parties expressed anger on issuance of notices to 30 illegal shrines in Parel-Lalbaug area of the city. Mayor Shraddha Jadhav said, “There was no need to issue notices when Hindu festivals are ahead.”