Indian Express 18.11.2009
25 religious encroachments in city: report
Encroachments by religious structures continue to thrive in the city. While some structures have been set up illegally, others have extended their structures by encroaching upon the adjoining piece of land.
In a report submitted by the Estate Office to the UT Administration, it has come to light that there are 25 illegal religious structures in the city. Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation has been asked to submit a revised list within a purview as well.
Councillor Harjinder Kaur, who has been raising the issue of a structure on a V-5 road in Sector 43 for the past few months, said, “Initially a small structure had come up at the site. More and more area is being encroached upon and the structure is growing. Due to the lack of a proper policy in place, there is no checking the growth of such structures. It is a traffic hazard and no action is being taken on the pretext that a policy is being framed.”
Encroachments in a gurdwara in Sector 38 (W) had become a cause of trouble a few months back when the team sent to raze a part of an illegal structure had to face protests at the hands of devotees.
‘No unauthorised construction will be permitted’
Finance Secretary Sanjay Kumar and Home Secretary Ram Niwas held separate meetings over the issue of removal of religious encroachments in the city. While the Home Secretary has stated that wherever religious structures are an impediment to the overall development and planning of the area, the same should be removed immediately. He said the DC had been asked to frame a policy for the removal of religious encroachments.
The Finance Secretary also directed that no unauthorised construction would be permitted on the government land in the name of temple, church, mosque or gurdwara. He said the Deputy Commissioner will ensure the compliance of the directions and any person knowing of any such illegal structure can inform the deputy commissioner.
