The Times of India 10.12.2010
PMC acts against illegal religious structures
PUNE: Acting on the Supreme Court order passed in September 2009 banning all unauthorised religious structures in public places, the Pune Municipal Corporation's (PMC) anti-encroachment department has demolished 17 such structures in the last three days.
"Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade recently directed that the SC order be followed and, accordingly, the PMC ward offices had demolished 17 religious structures in public places till Thursday evening. The drive will continue over the coming days," PMC anti-encroachment department head Ramesh Shelar told TOI.
The drive started on Tuesday with the PMC demolishing five structures on Saswad road near Hadapsar. "Since then, the drive has spread to other parts of the city. Also, we have sought police protection for the demolition squads," said Shelar.
In many areas, the demolition squad came up against opposition from local residents, he said. "The PMC carried out a survey a few months ago and found that there are 943 illegal religious structures in the city. Around 532 such structures are obstructing the smooth flow of traffic, while many others are on the footpaths."
On October 4, the state government had instructed the PMC to take action against religious structures in public places. "The municipal commissioner will send the progress report to the state and the SC as the drive continues," he added.
Earlier this week, Zagade, had a convened meeting of district collector and police officials to chalk out a plan for removing the illegal religious structures.
However, the drive has not gone down well with political parties which are fearful of a backlash in the form of reduced votes in the next general elections. They are planning to demand that the civic administration prepare a policy on shifting of religious structures, especially the ones obstructing vehicular traffic, and take the local residents into confidence.
"Municipal commissioner Mahesh Zagade recently directed that the SC order be followed and, accordingly, the PMC ward offices had demolished 17 religious structures in public places till Thursday evening. The drive will continue over the coming days," PMC anti-encroachment department head Ramesh Shelar told TOI.
The drive started on Tuesday with the PMC demolishing five structures on Saswad road near Hadapsar. "Since then, the drive has spread to other parts of the city. Also, we have sought police protection for the demolition squads," said Shelar.
In many areas, the demolition squad came up against opposition from local residents, he said. "The PMC carried out a survey a few months ago and found that there are 943 illegal religious structures in the city. Around 532 such structures are obstructing the smooth flow of traffic, while many others are on the footpaths."
On October 4, the state government had instructed the PMC to take action against religious structures in public places. "The municipal commissioner will send the progress report to the state and the SC as the drive continues," he added.
Earlier this week, Zagade, had a convened meeting of district collector and police officials to chalk out a plan for removing the illegal religious structures.
However, the drive has not gone down well with political parties which are fearful of a backlash in the form of reduced votes in the next general elections. They are planning to demand that the civic administration prepare a policy on shifting of religious structures, especially the ones obstructing vehicular traffic, and take the local residents into confidence.
