Deccan Chronicle 23.12.2010
Places of worship razed to free traffic
December 23rd, 2010
Dec. 22: At least 30 places of worship that were
obstructing the free flow of traffic were removed by the Tiruchy
municipal corporation with the help of the police and highway officials.
These temples and mosques were among several encroachments on the key
thoroughfares in the city.
“Officials have been conducting the eviction drive in
phases after holding sensitisation meetings with various religious
groups,” said Mr T.T. Balasamy, the corporation commissioner. He added
that the religious groups cooperated with the civic body and in some
instances they removed idols themselves, helping authorities to execute
the eviction order.
Among the places of worship removed in the last few days
were the Ilankan Mariamman temple on East Boulevard Road, Madurai Veeran
temple, Melamuthu Mariamman temple, and a mosque near Ramakrishna
theatre. As per the Supreme Court directive, civic bodies are empowered
to evict unauthorised encroachments on road spaces as they hinder the
free flow of traffic.