PUNE: Total 543 unauthorised religious structures have been identified by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC). A list was prepared by the encroachment department of the PMC, which will undertake a joint drive with the police to remove them.

Ramesh Shelar, PMC’s officer on special duty (encroachments ), said the decision to remove these structures was taken at a recent meeting between PMC commissioner Mahesh Zagade and Pune police chief Satya Pal Singh.

“A number of issues were discussed which included unauthorised religious structures that have cropped up on public land. We have prepared a zone-wise list of these structures which counts up to 543. To take action against them, we need the support of the police . Yesterday, I spoke with the deputy commissioner of police and we will initiate action in zone I soon,” Shelar said.

First, those structures will be removed that obstruct the main carriageway of roads. In later phases, structures in the inner parts of the city will be demolished, said Shelar.

“We will start another drive against road-side food-stall owners that sell unhygeinic food that too without proper licence and are a threat to public health. We have informed all ward offices today and arranged manpower required. The drive will begin Tuesday,” Shelar said.

Shelar said the food-stall owners often violate rules of two departments - health and encroachment. “On most occasions , they seek licence from the health department to sell a particular food item, but end up preparing and selling something else. At times, they seek license from the encroachment department to sell wares, but actually sell eatables. We will take stringent action against all such food-stall owners,” Shelar said.