BMC pleads with residents to let them demolish 2 shrines

In a bizarre move, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has pleaded with people to allow it to carry out its demolition drive against two shrines. Faced with stiff resistance from local residents, the civic body has appealed them to co-operate in the demolition of two shrines, which are proving to be obstacle in desilting of nullahs at Dharavi.

According to civic officials, in the G-North ward several water-logging incidents are witnessed at Gandhi Market, Dr Ambedkar Road and other low-lying areas. The water is discharged from F-North ward to G-North ward through the Mukhyadhyapak Nullah and Dhobighat Nullah. There are two shrines at these nullahs that are proving to be an obstacle in their desilting. To ensure proper cleaning of these nullahs, both these religious shrines need to be removed.

The BMC, earlier on May 26 and June 2, had planned to demolish these two shrines, for which it has also sought police protection. However, both the drives were scrapped due to the stiff resistance from the local residents and activists.

The Dharavi police has informed the BMC that there was likely to be a law and order problem over the communal issue as the area is quite sensitive. Hence, the civic body decided to scrap the demolition drives.

Ramakant Biradar, G-North ward officer, said, “The BMC has no documents to prove the legality of these shrines, which are situated above the nullahs. Hence, it is necessary to remove them and shift at other places for desilting work to be carried out properly. Local residents are opposing it saying they would carry out desilting on their own. But the problem will continue to crop up every year causing inconvenience to people. So we have appealed to the residents to support the civic body in the demolition drive.”