Open House: Should over 100 illegal religious structures be demolished in the Chandigarh?
It is a welcome step for the authorities to take action on illegal structures, as they hamper the availability of space for other developmental works in the city and become an eyesore due to their haphazard construction. Ample time could be given to the people working at these places to find alternate ways of earning a livelihood.
Saikrit Gulati, Chandigarh
Question for next week
The Chandigarh Administration’s proposal to allow shops and commercial establishments to operate 24X7 has received a lukewarm response. What steps should the administration take to encourage owners to keep their shops open round the clock?
Suggestions in not more than 70 words can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com
Illegal structures in city need to go
The administration and the government should not only remove illegal structures in the city but also give free land to people so that they could make legal structures in other parts of the city. Any kind of illegal structure should be dealt with a hard hand.
Avinash Goyal, Chandigarh
Authorities need to be alert
Encroachment of government land by religious groups or anybody else is illegal, and serving notice by the administration to demolish the structure appears to be justified. Although these structures have not been created recently, it is just now that the administration has decided to wake up, and that too after getting a court order. The authorities should be alert enough to check for unauthorised construction when the first brick is laid.
Sqn Ldr Manjit Singh Johar (retd), Chd
Hope religious leaders understand
The administration should respect Supreme Court orders, but it is also a religious matter. The stakeholders should be taken into confidence, expecting they will cooperate with the administration. Being a sensitive matter, contact religious leaders to discuss SC orders with them and hope they understand them.
Bharat Bhushan Sharma
Illegal structures should be demolished
Taking undue advantage of the right to freedom of religion, people started erecting illegal structures everywhere in the city. This just gives rise to superstitions, which lead to confusion and chaos among people. In my opinion, all these illegal structures should be demolished.
Sanvi Bhandari, Mohali
Demolish structures, Penalise owners
The architects of the city catered to well-marked religious areas. However, many unauthorised religious structures have mushroomed in the last few years. Why did the authorities not demolish these structures when they were coming up on government land without permission? The owners of these illegal structures play on the sentiments of the people and cause trouble. These structures should be removed immediately, and a fine should be levied on all those people who were responsible for the construction of these structures.
Amita
Mere structures are not religious places
The UT administration has noted over 100 illegal religious structures. To curtail any controversy, there should be an awareness in the populace of the difference between a mere rock and an actual religious place to prevent any more structures from being built blindly.
Parisha Khatri, Chandigarh
Illegal structures disturb everyone
The government’s decision to remove illegal structures is right for many reasons. Firstly, these temples might be used for smuggling money when the people give. Secondly, temples play a pivotal role in society as they connect the current generation to history, and erecting such religious structures at random places disturbs everyone in the area. Demolishing such illegal structures might be beneficial.
Akshansh Thakur
Faith is important for Community
There should be a need to check that any old sacred religious place does not come under demolition. Faith is an important part of society.
Adish Sood, Amloh
UT Administration wakes up from slumber
A small wooden or aluminium alteration in the CHG flats owned by authorised owners gets legal or penalty notices immediately. Keeping that in mind, it is surprising that people encroached upon government land, and they were essentially allowed to do so. It is now that the administration has woken up from its deep slumber as they have decided to demolish these structures.
Vijay Shukla, Chandigarh
Temples in Illegal structures insult God
It is actually an insult to God to have unauthorised religious structures on roads and pavements, obstructing public space. The administration should carry out the demolition drive for all the religious structures and should not be selective. The administration must have regulations for the removal or relocation of illegal religious structures built on public land, and action should be taken against all officials who allow such construction. The statues or construction of any structure in public places obstruct traffic movement, and we as citizens have the right to move freely, and it cannot be taken away.
Dr Anil Kumar Yadav, New Chandigarh
Welcome move by UT administration
The Chandigarh Deputy Commissioner has issued notices to over 100 illegal religious structures, directing their removal within four weeks. No individual or religious body has any right to occupy public or government land in an illegal manner in the name of a religion or religious organisation and such structures must be demolished immediately.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Free land for development works
Such grabbing of government land is possible with political clout and in connivance with corrupt revenue authorities. In the present situation, all religious structures constructed in violation of encroached government lands must be removed and freed land used for development purposes.
SS Arora, Mohali
Government has been negligent
It is sheer negligence of the government that illegal religious structures flourished in the city for so many years. The administration should carry out the demolition drive as the structures are encroaching on government land. There is no question of hurting religious sentiments, as residents are well-educated and aware.
Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali
Was City Admn waiting for court orders?
It is amazing how the administration just wakes up according to their convenience when things get out of hand. How have these illegal structures gone unnoticed when they were being erected in the city? Were they waiting for court orders to do something about them? In a city such as Chandigarh, there is no space for such illegal structures.
Surinder Paul Wadhwa, Mohali
Adhering to law is crucial
It is crucial to adhere to the law and protect public safety, even when dealing with religious structures. The administration’s decision to take action against illegal structures is necessary to uphold the rule of law and maintain a peaceful and orderly society. In my opinion, all the illegal structures need to be removed to keep the tag of ‘planned city’.
NK Guglani, Chandigarh
Demolition may hurt religious sentiments
India symbolised the power of tradition and culture through its temples and monuments. Demolishing these religious structures may harm the feelings of many city residents. The illegal construction is wrong; however, demolishing them without thinking of the citizens visiting the temple is also incorrect. The demolition will also leave a plethora of people unemployed, including the shops in front of the temples, the priests, and other staff. The administration needs to find an alternate method to deal with the matter.
Tisha Gupta
Estate Officers need to be held responsible
The administration should take possession of encroached land immediately. It has become a practice to encroach upon government land and ask for regularisation or an alternate site. It is the failure of Estate Officers who do not protect the land and property of the government due to non-accountability, laxity, and corruption. After taking over the encroached land, Estate Officer should ensure that such sites are not occupied by encroachers. The Tehsildar concerned should visit such areas under his ambit to ensure proper compliance.
KC Rana, Chandigarh
Consider residents’ religious sentiments
It has become a regular affair to encroach on government, private land, or roads to construct religious structures. It becomes very difficult for the administration to vacate those structures due to the emotional feelings of the believers; however, it is not right to go about erecting religious structures.
Wg Cdr JS Minhas (retd), Mohali
Admn needs to set right example
Removal of illegal religious structures will set the right example and put an end to this widely prevalent practice throughout our country. It all starts with someone keeping an idol at a place, which leads to the construction of a small structure to keep that idol safe. This eventually expands into a proper religious institution over a few years, with several vested interests associating it with some superstition or some event that never happened in the past. This should be discouraged with a heavy hand at the initial stages, lest its removal become a controversial issue at a later stage, causing law and order problems.
Brigadier Advitya Madan, Chd
One-time fee for settlement
The administration’s decision to remove illegal religious structures may have long-term side effects, as the administration has already provided water, electricity, and sewage connections to these structures a long time ago. The call for the demolition of these structures within four weeks is a hasty one. There should be a one-time penalty levied on the owners of these structures.
Col TBS Bedi (retd), Mohali
Need for transparent communication
Ensuring compliance with the Supreme Court order, the UT Administration’s notices to remove illegal religious structures uphold the rule of law. To balance enforcement with sensitivity, the administration could offer support for relocating these structures to designated areas, preserving cultural and religious sentiments while maintaining urban order. Community engagement and transparent communication can facilitate a smoother transition and mitigate potential conflicts, fostering a cooperative approach to urban planning and legal adherence.
Sahibpreet Singh, Mohali
Offer financial aid for reconstruction
Upholding the law is essential; however, a demolition drive targeting over 100 religious structures could be insensitive. To ensure a smooth resolution, the UT Administration could consider a two-pronged approach by establishing a committee with representatives from religious communities and the administration. This committee can identify alternate designated sites for relocation, foster cooperation and respect for religious freedom, and offer financial aid to ease the burden of reconstruction on these new sites. This demonstrates respect for religious practice while upholding legal requirements.
Gurpreet Kaur, Mohali
Upholding law is essential for society
Demolition of religious structures can be disruptive, even though upholding the law is essential. To ensure a smoother process, the UT Administration could consider a two-pronged approach. First, establish a committee with representatives from religious communities to identify alternate, legal sites for relocation. Second, offer financial assistance for reconstruction on designated land. This would show respect for religious freedom while ensuring public land use adheres to the Supreme Court order.
Gurdev Singh, Mohali
Transparency and sensitivity are key
I commend the UT Administration’s move to enforce the Supreme Court’s order on illegal religious structures. To ensure a harmonious implementation, I suggest a collaborative approach—engage with religious leaders and communities to relocate structures, offer alternative spaces, and provide incentives for compliance. Transparency and sensitivity are key. Let’s strike a balance between faith and civic order, fostering a law-abiding and inclusive society.
Amanjot Kaur, Mohali
Admn needs to Talk to religious committees
To ensure a smoother demolition of the illegal structures, the UT Administration could consider a two-pronged approach. First, establish a committee with representatives from religious communities to explore alternate designated sites for these structures. Second, offer temporary relocation assistance and potential financial aid for reconstruction on approved land. This would demonstrate respect for religious freedom while adhering to the court order and minimising community friction.
Gaganpreet Singh, Mohali
