Even as corporators raised a hue and cry against recent demolitions of unauthorised religious structures,the BMC administration has said the process of demolitions will continue as per the state governments order. Answering to the allegations that demolition of reilgious structures by the BMC could cause law and order problems, Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar said,We have got the orders under the governemnt resolution of the state government and we will follow it. If there is any law and order problem,it is the state governments responsibility. Our procedures will stop or change if the state government directs us. Following many cases of demolitions of illegal religious structures across the city,corporators had raised the issue in the general body meeting of the civic body. According to leader of the house Sunil Prabhu (a Sena leader) situations where there are demolitions of religious structures and the faith of hundreds of people is involved could lead to riotous situations and who will be responsible for that, said BJP corporator Ashish Shelar He said the cut-off date for demolitions of illegal religious structures should be changed from 1964 to December 7,2009,the date on which the Supreme Court passed an order with regard to the shrines,as the cut-off date. Also,the government directive to demolish illegal religous structures should be stayed unless a policy on the cut-off dates and other details are chalked out, said Shelar. Despite protests from various quarters over the demolitions,the BMC has remained firm on its stand and until last week demolished 55 religious structures built after 1964. According to officials,the civic administration will continue to give notices,while giving time till March 17 for submitting proof of legality of those structures that the caretakers claim were built before 1964. The BMC had issued notices to over 700 religious structures in the city and suburbs.
