Indore temple tragedy: Civic body launches drive to remove encroachments from religious complex

The drive was launched at the Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple complex in Patel Nagar area in the presence of heavy police security.

Days after as many as 36 people died in Indore’s Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple stepwell collapse, the local administration Monday launched a drive to remove encroachments from the religious complex

The drive has been taken up to remove encroachments from about 10,000 square feet of land around the temple premises.

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Days after 36 people died in Indore’s Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple stepwell collapse, the local administration Monday launched a drive to remove encroachments from the religious complex, news agency PTI reported. Ahead of the operation, the idols of deities were moved to the Kantafod temple.

The drive was launched at the Beleshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple complex in Patel Nagar area in the presence of heavy police security. Barricades were also erected on roads leading to the temple, the news agency quoted its official sources as saying. The drive has been taken up to remove encroachments from about 10,000 square feet of land around the temple premises.

After the tragedy last Thursday, two temple trustees were booked for culpable homicide not amounting to murder. Two Indore municipal corporation officials were suspended pending inquiry.

Indore temple tragedy: Civic body launches drive to remove encroachments from religious complexhttps://t.co/pEER0opqDF pic.twitter.com/CZiyymKzYf

— The Indian Express (@IndianExpress) April 3, 2023

The Indian Express had Sunday reported that four years ago, the Indore Nagar Nigam (Indore municipal corporation) conducted a survey to ascertain the total number of wells in the city, but the one inside Bileshwar Mahadev Jhulelal temple, where people fell to their death, did not figure on the list.

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Nagar Nigam officials also said there was no mention of the temple in the Indore Development Authority’s (IDA) plan in 1985, while the IDA’s maps showed the well on land marked for a children’s park. The temple came under the scanner of authorities once the trust that runs it started constructing a larger temple next to the original one. The municipality received complaints against the new construction, and a notice was served to the trust in April last year.

Following the notice, the temple trust replied to the municipal corporation and said: “False information regarding revival of temple is being published in the notice, which is not only against the principles of Hindu dharma but also provokes the sentiments of Hindus. Due to this, peace of Hindus in the local area has been affected and there is fear among them, due to which there is a possibility of Hindu sentiments being provoked.”

The reply also asked the municipal corporation to withdraw the notice and help the trust in the revival work.

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