The Shakti Ganapati Temple constructed by Shakti Ganapati Trust way back in 1995 was found to be illegal in the recently conducted survey. The trust had allegedly built the temple, besides a marriage hall and seven shops abutting the temple, to raise sufficient money towards its maintenance in the form of rent. When the trustees failed to comply with the request to voluntarily clear the encroachment, Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta issued the order to raze on May 25.
Three excavators and 30 gangmen swung into operation, even as the people in the surrounding were still in deep slumber, in early hours.
Sources told Deccan Herald, barring sanctum sanctorum, where the idol of the deity is consecrated, the remaining portion of the temple and other portions were cleared till evening hours. The district adminstration have given them (trust) time till June 7 evening to remove the idol.
The place that was cleared in the operation is likely to be converted into a bus bay, with KSRTC Bus Stand nearby.
The excavators next will turn towards the city, where over 200 such temples await action. Of them 20 have cleared encroachments on their own, it is said. The major problem could be alternate space, to shift the temples, if any demands arise in this regard.
Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta and Tahsildar Manjunath Swamy supervised the drive.
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