Footpath prayers soon to be heard?

BANGALORE: It seems that Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) will ‘legalise’ unauthorised temples, churches and mosques constructed on footpaths across the city. According to the statistics available with the BBMP, there are 174 such places of worship constructed illegally on the footpaths of Bangalore. This includes 169 temples, four churches and one mosque.However, sources from the BBMP said that the figures are actually more than this, in all the eight zones. The Palike has not done a complete survey on these encroachments.A senior official from the Palike said that though there is a supreme court direction, it is not possible for them to demolish or tell the concerned authorities to move out. “We fear it might disrupt communal harmony. Places of worship are too personal for most people,” the official said. “We know many of these temples, churches and mosques have become an obstacle for road users and pedestrains. But we are helpless,” the official added.Now, the Palike is planning to streamline those illegally constructed buildings. Authorities are now planning to bring the illegally constructed temples under the Muzurai department, and move them from the control of temple trusts. "Similarly, mosques will be under the WAKF norms, and churches will be under the Churches of South India,” the official said.When contacted C K Ramamurthy, chairman to standing committee (Town Planning), said that the matter is still under discussion. “The concerned file is with the commissioner,” he added. However, he said that the concerned assistant revenue officer of the particular zone will look into this.It can be recalled that in order to avoid such constructions on the footpaths, the state government had earlier directed urban and rural local bodies to earmark suitable places in the new layout plans for the construction of temples, churches, mosques and gurduwaras.