Deccan Chronicle 11.02.2010

State to follow GHMC plan on roadside shrines

Hyderabad, Feb. 10: The government is likely to replicate the three-pronged strategy of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) on religious structures in public places, right across the state.

The Supreme Court deadline to formulate a policy on religious structures on roads, in parks and other public places, is February 16. The government has to file an affidavit in the SC by this date and must move to meet the deadline.

The chief secretary, Mr S.V. Prasad, convened a meeting with the departments concerned on Thursday to discuss the policy. Sources said there had been little response to the government’s directions sent on two earlier occasions, in December 2009 and January 2010.

The Supreme Court has asked states not to allow any unauthorised constructions of temples, churches, mosques and gurudwaras on streets, in parks and other public places. Existing structures should be reviewed and appropriate steps taken at the earliest.

“The GHMC has already filed an affidavit on a similar issue in the High Court and we will discuss the pros and cons of implementing the same strategy across the state,” a senior official said.

The GHMC proposed to remove temporary and small structures immediately, and take more time in the case of semi-permanent structures. It proposed that committees be formed of religious heads in case of structures that has sentimental value.