Citizens stop BMC razing Malad temple

Mumbai: Following stiff opposition from the residents, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had to put off its plans to demolish the Hanuman Mandir situated near Malad railway station on Thursday.

According to the locals, the civic corporation had issued a demolition notice to the temple claiming that it was not built before 1960. However, the residents have claimed that it was built in 1948.

The civic body’s decision to demolish the temple had created tension in the area, due to which police had to even deploy heavy bundobast.

According to civic sources, the civic corporation had not received any documents showing that the temple was built before 1960.

In the year 2008, it was proposed to shift the temple based on the then bottleneck policy since it was found to be disturbing the traffic. However, as the policy was scrapped, the decision to move the temple was cancelled.

Sanjog Kabre, Assistant municipal commissioner of P-North ward said, “According to the new evidences, it was found that temple was built in 1948. Hence, we decided to cancel the action and it was decided to table its proposal before the state-level committee for its approval.”

BJP MP Gopal Shetty, who led the people's agitation, said, “Despite having valid documents, the BMC was adamant that the temple is built after 1960. If the State-level committee gives a positive verdict, we will keep it at the same place, otherwise we will have to shift it to other place.”