Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Worli MLA Aaditya Thackeray Wednesday opposed the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) decision to relocate a century old Lakshmi Narayan temple - being removed as part of a larger development project - at Arthur Road area. Thackeray along with the former mayor of Mumbai Kishori Pednekar visited the temple premise yesterday. In a social media post on ‘X’ Thackeray wrote that the developer will not be allowed to go ahead with the construction work if the temple is being relocated. BMC officials stated that the land parcel on which the temple stands, is earmarked for a real estate development project which involves construction of housing tenements for municipal workers and that a notice was served to the trustees back in February. The plot where the temple stands also houses a garage for the BMC, according to officials. Thackeray while upping the ante further questioned the need for the notices as according to him the temple was not posing as an obstruction for the construction work. He also jibed why such a decision was being taken in a BJP ruled state. “Today I inspected the temple premises and interacted with the members of Lakshmi Narayan Temple committee. Why was the temple committee given a notice even though it is not an obstacle to the construction of the building? We will not tolerate the bullying of the municipal corporation and developers who have stepped forward to demolish the temple. If anyone touches the temple they will not allow this builder to build a building with apartments for sale. But the question is why are so many temples being served notices in a BJP ruled state that gives Hindutva certificate to others ?” Aaditya's post read. BMC officials said that the project was being executed through a private builder, adding, “.as part of the agreement all eligible displaced structures will be given new space in that same plot on completion of the project. This matter had gone to the civil court and the trustees had withdrawn the petition after the contractor gave a written guarantee stating that the temple will be relocated in the plot itself. Civic officials added that the first notice was served to the trustees in February this year, which was followed up by reminders. The February notice also states that several structures that were present in the plot have already been vacated. “The structures of Buddha Vihar, Lakshminarayan Temple, Hanuman Temple, and Saibaba Temple have not yet been vacated or handed over to the local civic office. This delay is hindering the progress of the planned redevelopment. Accordingly, upon receipt of this notice, the concerned authorities are requested to relocate the aforementioned religious structures to the designated temporary site and hand them over. Post-redevelopment, these religious structures will be reinstated within the newly constructed premises as per the approved redevelopment plan,” stated the notice.
