JOIN USOne more demolition drive
The district administration has identified 550 illegal places of worship during survey conducted in different taluks in the district.
Of them, 175 are in Chikkaballapur taluk, including 56 in Chikkaballapur City Municipal Council limits. The list includes temples, mosques and churches. Most of the centres were built by the roadside in different layouts in the city.
The Chikkaballapur CMC has already prepared a list of these religious centres. It has also mentioned that the buildings were constructed prior to December 7, 2009.
Off the road
The report has noted that most of these centres have come up close to the roads. Cases are also pending before courts on some of the structures. Two places of worship have been built in the parks.
Also, most of the illegal structure are Ashwatthakattes, built with stones and bricks. Only few are built with cement and granite blocks.
The CMC has conducted a comprehensive survey of these centres and collected information regarding the place and the total area occupied by them. The authorities have also mentioned schedules for the disputed places of worships.
Time limit
The Chikkaballapur district administration took necessary steps regarding the matter on October 31, based on the information provided by the CMC. It has given a week's notice to the religious leaders to shift the disputed structures.
They could file objections to the Municipal Commissioner with records if the structures were genuine and built with proper records and necessary permission.
Chikkaballapur Additional Deputy Commissioner G S Nayak told Deccan Herald that if there was no objection, the district administration would go ahead with the demolition as per the orders of Supreme Court.
Inspection before work
He added that the religious centres and the surrounding area would be inspected before taking up the demolition work.
Nayak promised that the demolition would be carried out only after following all the necessary procedures.
Threat looms large
Balamuri Ganapati Temple on Sante Market Road, Anjaneyaswamy Temple near Vapasandra and Chamarajpet, Ranganathaswamy Temple near Milk Dairy, Anjaneya Temple, and Ganapati Temple near M G Road, Yogi Shanishwara Temple on M G Road, Mallamma Temple on Kandavara Nandi Road and the mosque in Municipal Layout have been marked in the city for demolition.
In addition, several Ashwatthakattes and Anjaneyaswamy Temples have been identified in Chikkaballapur city.
The statue of Sir M Visvesvaraya on Bazaar Road will be shifted to a new location.