Swaminarayan temple encroached land near bridge collapse site: Morbi Collector
The temple is being constructed by Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) Sanstha.
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The Swaminarayan temple construction site near the eastern tower of the Jhulto Pul in Morbi. (Express File photo) The under-construction Swaminarayan temple in Morbi has “prima facie encroached on an adjoining plot of land” on the bank of Machchhu river, District Collector KB Jhaveri said on Friday, adding that the encroachment will be removed. The remarks come days after the civic body in Morbi served a demolition notice amid claims that the construction of the temple near the Jhulto Pul collapse site was constricting the course of the river, which can spell disaster in the event of a flood.
Briefing reporters on Friday, the Collector said that a multi-disciplinary team – constituted to conduct a joint enquiry into the complaints of alleged encroachment on the river bed – has submitted its report.
Speaking with The Indian Express, the Collector said that they are ascertaining details of the land surrounding the site where the temple is being constructed. “Prima facie, the under-construction temple precinct has encroached on the nearby land.
We are studying the report and ascertaining details of the land surrounding the temple precinct,” he said.
The temple is being constructed by Bochasanwasi Shri Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan (BAPS) Sanstha. It is a sub-sect of the Swaminarayan sect.
The team comprising district inspector of land records (DILR), sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) of Morbi, chief officer (CO) of Morbi municipality and executive engineer of irrigation department exercising jurisdiction over the said stretch of Machchhu river has prima facie concluded that parts of the under-construction temple precinct fall beyond the land owned by the BAPS.
“The team has submitted its report to us today and we are studying it. However, prima facie, the DILR has reported that some construction has been done on the land falling outside the boundary of land owned by the Sanstha. This construction will have to be removed,” Jhaveri said while briefing the media.
The Collector further said that the norms governing the construction on the banks of water bodies are also being flouted. “As per the report of chief officer of Morbi municipality, rules governing construction on banks of water bodies have not been followed, prima facie. So, we will study the report and remove whatever requires to be removed,” he said.
The Collector had formed the multi-disciplinary team after the municipality in Morbi said on June 10 that the BAPS had not sought prior permission for constructing the temple on the eastern bank of Machhu river near the site of the Jhulto Pul suspension bridge. The bridge collapsed on October 30, 2022, killing 135 people, including at least 55 children.
The municipality and the District Collector had swung into action after social worker KD Panchasara and advocate Dilip Agechaniya, and two others submitted an application to the Collector’s office on May 27.
Taking action, the municipality had served a notice to the temple on Monday, warning demolition of the structure within 30 days. The next day, the Collector formed an enquiry team.
A BAPS functionary in Morbi told The Indian Express on Wednesday that they purchased the land from the royal family of erstwhile princely state of Morbi and that they were not doing any construction on the river bed. The functionary claimed that they were merely raising the height of a flood protection wall, which has been there on the bank of the river for decades.
Jhaveri said that raising the height of the flood protection wall can also lead to adverse consequences. “It is true that the flood protection wall in question has been there since pre-Independence days but the Sanstha has raised its height. That can lead to a change in course of the river. However, if a ghaat-like structure is constructed, it may allow the water to flow during flood.”
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