’Helpless’ MLAs want stay on demolition drive

Hounded by calls and SMSes from concerned residents since BMC began razing religious structures, MLAs want those before 1964 to be protected

'Helpless' MLAs want stay on demolition drive

Hounded by calls and SMSes from concerned residents since BMC began razing religious structures, MLAs want those before 1964 to be protected

BESIDES taking a toll on residents, the BMC's demolition of religious structures in the city to comply with a Supreme Court directive has caused much consternation among Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs).

One of the holy structures that was demolished by theu00a0BMC after the Supreme Court's order to raze illegal religious structures

The elected representatives say they are feeling helpless, as they can't do much to stop the drive despite being hounded by calls and SMSes from concerned residents.

"Hundreds of residents have been calling me and queuing up outside my office to ask me to do something to stop the demolition and prevent the BMC from hurting their religious feelings.
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I feel powerless because the BMC is following a Supreme Court order and there isn't much I can do to stop it," said an MLA from the central suburbs.

While some are seeking the state's intervention in stopping the demolition, others are angry at the state government and the BMC for not fighting the case properly in court.

Vile Parle MLA Krishna Hegde said, "People are aggrieved at the drive. We have approached the chief minister for a stay so thatpeople can submit their objections to BMC.
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All religious structures before 1964 should be protected and those which have to be removed should be shifted
to an approved place by the residents with the government paying the expenses."

Andheri (West) MLA Ashok Jadhav said, "People are calling me everyday. The petitioner who approached the court should have thought about the ground realities and the sentiments of the people.

For example, there is a cross near my house, which is older than, me and there is a temple in Juhu, which is older then the JVPD. How can you touch such old structures?"

"I am getting hundreds of SMSes to save old structures. New structures can be razed, but why are they razing the old ones? Some of the religious structures have been here even before the cityu00a0 came into being.

How can they demolish those?" asked Malad (West) MLA, Aslam Shaikh.