NMC marks many popular shrines for demolition

Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has notified 1,008 illegal religious structures in Category A that could be regularized and 197 structures in Category B that are marked for demolition. Most of these 197 shrines, though illegal, are not on any road and are not obstructing traffic. Corporators have objected to the list and demanded revision.
NMC has notified 1,205 shrines a couple of days ago. on Thursday it filed an affidavit before the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court informing about the notification. NMC will receive suggestions and objections on the list for 30 days. Those who submit suggestions and objections will be heard. NMC will then finalize the shrines in Category A and B and submit them to HC.

The list of 197 shrines in Category B marked for demolition comprises some popular city shrines. It includes Hanuman and Ganesh temples on the bank of Sonegaon lake. Another example is Meetha Neem Durgah adjacent to Vidhan Bhavan.

Ruling party leader Sandip Joshi told TOI none of 44 Category B shrines in South-West Nagpur are on road and are not obstructing traffic movement. “I visited these shrines and met people and corporators of those areas. NMC officials said these were situated on reservation lands like playground and hence listed in Category B. NMC general body had approved a policy for regularization of shrines situated in part of playground. Therefore, objections will be filed on these shrines for inclusion in Category A,” he said.

Corporators Praful Gudadhe (Congress) and Prakash Bhoyar (BJP) said Hanuman and Ganesh temples on Sonegaon lake’s bank were historic and constructed during Bhonsla period. “They are not obstructing traffic movement and are also not on land having other reservation. It is a mistake to include them in Category B,” they said.

NMC officials said two temples were included as they may fall in proposed widening of Sonegaon road. “We have also considered shrines in Category B that fall in the area meant for development plan (DP) roads,” the official said.

Some temples in the list do not exist at all. One is Hanuman temple at Ravinagar square. It was demolished last month but is still Category B list. Some situated on private lands too are listed in Category B. A Shiv temple in Jaitala is one such.

NMC officials said final decision will be taken after completing the process. “City-level committee headed by civic chief is having powers to revise the list,” they said.

The 1,008 shrines in Category A are all set for regularization. This list too has many well-known shrines. In September, HC had directed NMC to demolish all shrines on roads and footpaths. HC then asked the civic body to conduct a fresh survey and make two categories. Category A for shrines that can be regularized and Category B that have to be demolished..