It seems authorities are taking the development of city very seriously and would not even take the religious sentiments of people into consideration.
City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco), finally demolished the Varaad Vinayak temple, built on an illegal spot, located in sector 4A of Koparkhairane. The demolition was done on the morning of January 9.
“Cidco had been trying to act against this illegal temple since the last two to three months but it got delayed due to technical problems, festivals and conferences,” said Hemant Bodke, a Cidco officer. “The place where the temple was located was alloted to Manav Sadhan Vikas Sanstha two-three months back,” said Anil Patil, Cidco’s chief controller of unauthorised construction. Bodke added, “Manas Sadhan Vikas Sanstha was the owner of the plot, so it was necessary to vacate the place.” The temple was built in 2009.
Cidco had detected the place in 2011 and given a notice to the residents who took care of the temple. The residents later replied, asking for a piece of land as they were worshippers at the temple. “We allot plots to everyone; any trust can apply for a plot for any purpose like building temples or run an organisation but this space was not given to the locals,” said an official from Cidco’s social service department, requesting anonymity.
Koparkhairane’s new ward officer Balkrishna Patil, said, “When I went to the place, the temple was already demolished by Cidco.”
“The temple was there since many years. There was a lot of space for parking. We also held various programmes and weddings at the temple,” said Suresh Saldaar, corporator.
He added, “Cidco handed over the place to the organisation instead of giving it to Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC). The issue was going on since the past seven to eight years. In 2003, NMMC had even asked for the plot.”
Saldaar had said before the demolition, “Some women from the organisation promised the worshippers that they could keep the temple and the space for parking as there was enormous land.” He added, “There was a political matter; Cidco wanted to have more money so they did not give that place to NMMC.”
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