Jain community demands BMC rebuild demolished parts of Vile Parle temple, engineers' union questions official's transfer

Members of the Jain community protesting against the demolition of parts of the Vile Parle Jain temple on April 16 met the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation officials on Monday demanding that the civic body rebuild the demolished parts.
Meanwhile, the Mumbai Municipal Engineers' Union (MMEU), in a letter to the Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, questioned the administration's decision to transfer assistant municipal commissioner Navnath Ghadge, from the K/East ward under whose jurisdiction the temple was demolished.
Anil Shah, trustee of the temple, said that the BMC's law department in an August 2013 resolution had legalised the structure.
'As per the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning (MRTP) Act, any action is to be initiated against the structure is barred by the act of its existence prior to 1962. Thus, the said structure which is seen authenticated cannot be demolished,' read the law department's resolution.
'The temple has been there since 1962, and its presence has been acknowledged in the city survey plan. Therefore, we have put forward our demand in front of civic officials that the demolished portions should be rebuilt by them. Tomorrow, the we will be putting forward a similar demand in-front of the minority commission,' Shah told The Indian Express.
'During the demolition drive, valuables starting from jewelleries to religious items like books, prayer beads, idols and vessels got damaged. Therefore, it is justified on our part to demand from authorities so that they rebuild the structure,' Shah added.
Meanwhile when contacted, deputy municipal commissioner, Vishvas Mote told Express that the BMC is reviewing the matter.
Meanwhile, in their letter, the MMEU stated that municipal engineers should not be made scapegoats under political pressure.
'Sudden punitive action without investigation demoralizes officials and hinders genuine efforts against illegal activities,' the MMEU letter said in their letter.
Earlier on April 16, the BMC's K/East ward office demolished portions of the temple citing them to be illegal.
Following this, politicians across party lines criticised the BMC and on April 19, the administration transferred the assistant municipal commissioner who was headed the ward office.

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