CMC adopts resolution against demolition of shrines

The Hindu      03.12.2010

CMC adopts resolution against demolition of shrines

SHIMOGA: The Shimoga City Municipal Council (CMC) on Thursday adopted
a resolution urging the district administration not to resort to
demolition of “illegally” constructed shrines on the direction of the
Supreme Court.

The resolution adopted at the meeting here stated that the decision
to demolish such temples and other places of worship should be
reconsidered.

Councillor S.N. Channabasappa of the BJP, who raised the issue, said
that the decision of the Deputy Commissioner to set a deadline for
removal of 38 temples and other places of worship in the city was not
proper.

He criticised the CMC authorities for serving notice on the
managements of such temples and other places of worship to shift
elsewhere.

Mr. Channabasappa claimed that the Supreme Court directive stated
that only the temples and other places of worship constructed
“illegally” after 2009 could be demolished if they caused inconvenience
to the people. Hence, the Deputy Commissioner should ensure that the
temples and other places of worship constructed before 2009 were not
demolished, he said.

He wondered how the temples constructed by the people of the
respective areas could be found to cause inconvenience to the public.

He said the CMC authorities should to take a delegation comprising
councillors to Deputy Commissioner V. Ponnuraj and request him not to
demolish such temples and other places of worship.

Congress Councillor S.K. Mariappa said it was unfortunate that the
issue was not discussed in the Legislature. The State Government should
file an objection in the Supreme Court against its directive.

CMC Commissioner B. Jayanna said meetings of members of the temple
trusts had been convened on December 4 and 6 to discuss the issue.

Municipal president K.S. Gangadharappa presided over the meeting.