From Our Special Correspondent

Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Feb 9: The Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) is keeping itself busy yet again in conducting a quick survey of all unauthorised religious structures in all 198 wards in the city to be completed within a short span of less than a week.

BBMP commissioner, N Manjunath Prasad, who held a meeting of officials, gave directions to the officials to identify unauthorised religious structures in public property as well as private properties and submit a report on the same by February 15.

The BBMP commissioner also directed that show cause notices must be issued to persons involved in construction of unauthorised structures on public property after September 2009.

The latest move comes in the wake of directions from the Karnataka High Court to the civic body to identify unauthorised religious structures that have been constructed after September 2009 on public and private properties in the city.

The High Court had expressed dissatisfaction after the BBMP submitted a report claiming there were 1,588 religious structures, of which nearly 1,240 existed before September 2009.

In a PIL filed in the Supreme Court in 2009, the apex court had noted that structures that had come up before 2009 may be shifted to other locations, while no structures should be allowed after that.

With respect to structures on private property, the revenue officials were instructed to scrutinise land records establishing ownership and whether necessary approvals from government bodies (either BDA or BBMP) for building plans had been obtained or not.

After issuing the show cause notices, one week's time should be given to those responsible for construction of unauthorised religious structures to respond under section 229 of the new BBMP Act, 2020.

The BBMP commissioner directed the revenue officials to issue a summary order declaring a structure is illegal and should be demolished.

For structures constructed before September 2009, there were three options - removal, relocation and regularisation. But for structures on medians, footpaths or roads and cause obstruction to movement of pedestrians or vehicles should be removed, if necessary with police protection, the commissioner directed.

While the BBMP did not have the authority to take a decision on such structures, a report would be sent to the state government, which would take a policy decision on structures that have to be removed, relocated and regularised.

Taking note of some statues of actors such as Dr Rajkumar and Vishnuvardhan also being included in the list of unauthorised religious structures, the commissioner instructed the officials to use their discretion.