The Hindu 16.11.2010
5,300 unauthorised shrines stand on public property
| Some will be razed, others regularised or relocated |
Bangalore: Some 5,300 unauthorised shrines, including temples, mosques and gurdwaras in Karnataka are built on public property, including roads and parks.
These figures were submitted by the State Government to the Supreme Court, which in September 2009 directed all State governments to identify unauthorised religious shrines and initiate action and take steps to prevent such constructions.
Deputy commissioners of each district have been interacting with community leaders to maintain peace during the process of demolition or relocation or regularisation of these structures as the Government had informed the Supreme Court it would complete the process by December 31, 2010.
“We will seek more time from the Supreme Court if the process can not be completed by the end of the year,” a senior Home Department official said. Bangalore Rural district has 1,269 unauthorised shrines, the highest in the State, with 1,213 temples, 17 churches, 55 mosques, four gurdwaras and 44 others (of all varieties) under construction.
Dakshina Kannada district comes second — 833 (640 temples, 32 churches, 151 mosques, 10 gurdwaras), followed by Bangalore City with 575 (442 temples, 95 churches and 38 mosques).
While there are an estimated 4,500 unauthorised temples, 200 unauthorised churches and nearly 500 unauthorised mosques across the State, there are only about 14 unauthorised gurdwaras. There were no unauthorised temples in Kodagu district. Ramanagaram district has only three unauthorised temples and no unauthorised mosque and church. Chikmagalur has three unauthorised shrines — a temple, a mosque, and a church.
The official said there was no need to demolish all these structures as the Supreme Court had accepted the policy framed by the Government which made it possible to remove or to relocate or to regularise these structures on a case-by-case basis.
“Unauthorised shrines that have come up on roads will be summarily demolished after asking community leaders to shift the idols. Those built on and adjoining storm-water drains will also be demolished,” said the official, pointing out that those not obstructing the public and not disturbing peace and tranquillity would be considered for regularisation.
In an affidavit filed in the Supreme Court in September, Chief Secretary S.V. Ranganath stated that “about 13 unauthorised shrines were demolished and four partially demolished. However, as the matter is of a sensitive nature and touches the religious faith and belief of people, the State Government has had to deal with these problems cautiously.”
