NAGPUR:
Most people will agree that encroachers have no religion. However,
the same people may be less sure when asked to comment on religious
structures encroaching upon the city's public utility land.
Despite
several Supreme Court and high court orders against encroachments,
there is no respite from such religious structures. NMC records say
that there are 315 religious and 848 non-religious illegal
structures, giving ample testimony to the lackadaisical attitude
regarding such encroachments. And surprisingly, more such structures
continue to come up.
Two
such illegal religious structures have come up on the banks of
Sonegaon Lake near HB Estate Colony. One is a Buddha Vihar while the
other is a Goddess Durga temple.
Residents
of HB Estate Colony, Swawlambi Nagar and Sonegaon Lake said that some
months back a few residents had performed a puja and constructed the
temple. Recently, during Navratri, an idol was also installed on the
structure in around 1,000 sq ft land.
With
NMC's Laxmi Nagar zone remaining a silent spectator to the
encroachment, a Buddha Vihar also came up on the banks of the temple
recently. The Buddha Vihar has also obtained electric supply from
MSEDCL. It has erected a board and claims to have started a clinic
for poor people and a library for residents.
Those
involved in building and/or running both religious structures refused
to comment for this article.
A
group of residents said on condition of anonymity that both police
and corporation officials are doing nothing despite being empowered
to act against illegal encroachments.
"Both
civic body and city cops can initiate action under Maharashtra
Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966; City of Nagpur Corporation Act,
1948; Indian Penal Code, and Bombay Police Act," said residents.
Now,
Laxmi Nagar zone has finally woken up from its slumber. Assistant
municipal commissioner (Laxmi Nagar zone) SM Jaidev said they have
served notices to both illegal structures. He said both will be razed
soon.
The
NMC, however, failed to give a convincing reply when asked why and
how these structures came up in the first place?
"Staffers
refuse to remove illegal structures as representatives from these
religious structures not only use foul language but also threaten
them with dire consequences," claimed an NMC officer. "They
also warned that if we demolished these structures it would trigger
communal tension," he added.
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© 2012 Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. All rights reserved.
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