‘Illegal’ religious structures regularised

Succumbing under the pressure of various religious organisations,which were spearheading a sustained campaign to escape the demolition or eviction of the illegal religious places,for which GMADA had already initiated the proceedings,CM put his stamp of approval to regularise the illegal possession and encroachment made by all such places. Chairing a special meeting with the representatives of various religious organisations in the presence of senior district officials at his official residence in Chandigarh,Badal fixed Rs 6 per square yard annual levy to regularise illegal religious structures covering up to 1,000 square yards and Rs 12 per square yards annual levy for those encroaching above 1,000 square yards of land.

CM constituted a five-member committee,comprising Manoj Kumar Aggarwal,Hardyal Singh Mann,HS Thakur,Joginder Singh Sondhi and Samuel,representing different religious sects,to amicably resolve the issue to provide adequate parking lots in front of all such religious places for the convenience of devotees in consultation with GMADA authorities on priority basis. Badal categorically told the religious leaders that the parking lots should be made outside the boundary walls of the religious places to avoid traffic congestion during heavy rush of devotees on special occasions.

Making it clear that this one time measure will not be extended on any fresh case in future,he asked the managements of the religious places not to encroach upon the government land and rather abide by the rules and regulations of the GMADA.

In its judgment deciding a civil writ petition on September 29,2009,the Supreme Court had directed the state governments to take effective steps to regularize the unauthorized possession of religious places existing for the last ten years by devising a concrete policy.

Most of the illegal religious structures in Mohali were existing for the past over two to three decades and were not the personal property of any individual but the society on a whole had spent lots of money for fulfilling their one of the basic needs,the religious leaders impressed upon the CM.

Deputy Commissioner Varun Roojam,GMADA Chief Administrator Sarvjit Singh and District Planning Committee Chairman NK Sharma also attended the meeting.