Government tells HC it will take nine months to demolish illegal structures
Govt tells HC it will take nine months to demolish illegal structuresThe Maharashtra government on Friday informed the Bombay high court that it will commence the demolition of illegal shrines after Diwali and the process would be completed after nine months.
In seven municipal corporations in the state — as of February 1 — there were 6,336 unauthorised structures, of which 207 had been regularised, 179 demolished and three relocated.
In the meantime, the court also directed the state government to file its reply to the allegation that Chandrakant Khaire, a Shiv Sena member of Parliament from Aurangabad, had obstructed the demolition of an illegal local temple.
The court had asked the state to implement a Supreme Court order and remove illegal religious structures that were constructed in Maharashtra after September 29, 2009. Though the state government had stated before the court that it would complete the processes of removal, including demolition, regularisation and relocation of religious structures, in a year’s time, the court had asked the former to complete it within nine months.
The government on Friday informed the high court that a circular had been amended as per the court’s directions and now the work of removal of illegal shrines would be completed within nine months’ time.
In September 2009, the Supreme Court had directed all states to initiate action against illegal shrines.On the other hand, social activist Bhagwanii Rayani, who has filed the petition seeking implementation of the apex court order directing all the states to demolish illegal shrines, informed the court that on Thursday when the demolition squad reached the spot, Mr Khaire had not only prevented it from being demolished but also abused the squad.
To this, advocate general Shreehari Aney told the division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice V.L. Achliya that the Maharashtra government was aware of the incident but not the facts.
He also confirmed that this was the second such incident. He, however, also made it clear that the government is keen to implement its May 5, 2011 GR, which was issued for removal of illegal religious structures.
