Thane: Around 89 illegal religious structures in Thane city will soon be demolished. Thane’s civic chief, Sanjeev Jaiswal, has given the directions to the officials to complete the drive within 15 days. Likewise, the officials if fail to do so, will have to face strict action. The illegal shrines occupying the footpaths, service roads and any civic property will be razed in the next 15 days. The civic commissioner has asked assistant municipal commissioners of each ward to demolish these shrines or face action.
There are around 89 illegal shrines across the city including temples, durgah, churches and other places of worship. The survey of all the shrines in the city has revealed that the city had 714 illegal shrines. Out of these, 587 shrines can now be legally regularised by the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). Apart from this there are remaining 127 shrines which are illegal, however out of this there are 12 shrines, whose fate will be determined by an higher level committee. This leaves the remaining 115 shrines which needs to be demolished.
“TMC chief Sanjeev Jaiswal has given directives to demolish all the remaining illegal shrines in the city. The ward officers in each of the respective wards will be responsible for demolishing these shrines. In case they aren’t demolished within 15 days, action will be taken against those officials. Demolishing these shrines will clear lot of space on the roads, footpaths or service road, occupied by these place of worship,” informed Sandeep Malavi, Public Relation Officer, TMC.
Apart from the illegal shrines, the civic Commissioner has also given directives to remove illegal hoardings, banners and flags defacing the city in the next three days.
“We have demolished 38 shrines so far, while 89 shrines are yet to be demolished. We plan to demolish them in 15 days as per the directives of the civic commissioner. We are formulating a plan of action and the razing will start once we get required police force,” Ashok Burpulle, deputy municipal commissioner, anti-encroachment, said.
The Court order
In May 2011, a GR was issued by the state government to demolish shrines after 2009. The Bombay High Court had slammed the municipal corporation for not implementing the GR. Following the court’s directives the corporation prepared a list of 714 shrines and divided them into A, B and C categories in 2015. Category A includes the old and famous shrines which do not interfere with the developmental plan of the city and can be regularised with the approval of various local authorities. Category B comprises those constructed between 1960 and 2009 which interfere with the development plan of the city and the special committee will have take decision on this shrine whether to demolish or regularise it. Category C includes those which can be rehabilitated.