Mumbai, Nov 03: The demolition of illegal shrines in the city continued today with the civic body claiming that it had so far razed 297 unauthorised structures even as city-based Mandir Bachao Samiti threatened to drag the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation to the court over the issue. "We are moving the Mumbai High Court to seek a stay on demolition of temples", Samiti president Ravindra Shivalkar told reporters.
He further informed that the Samiti had submitted a memorandum to the Municipal Commissioner warning him of possible 'communal tension' due to BMC's demolition drive.
Shivalkar said Shiv Sena leader Raj Thackeray has extended his support to their legal step in stopping the demolition of temples.
The BMC had initiated action on the illegal shrines after Diwali on a High Court directive for removing such shrines from the pavements in the city.
"The BMC razed 48 more shrines today taking the total tally of demolished shrines to 297 so far," said BMC Additional Municipal Commissioner, Vijaysinh Patankar.
According to BMC, there were altogether 1430 illegal shrines in the city.
"We have also secured the assistance of police wherever the demolitions are being undertaken. The drive is initiated only after police clearance since we want to avoid any law and order problem", Patankar maintained.
Bureau Report