Post News Network
Cuttack: In deference to an earlier order of the Supreme Court, the state government has submitted to the apex court that there are about 20,025 illegal shrines in the state.
The affidavit submitted by the state government says Ganjam tops the list of all 30 districts with 5,679 illegal shrines while Nayagarh has the
lowest 17.
Although the SC and Orissa High Court had issued directions on several occasions since 2006 to the state government to demolish illegal places of worship, this was not implemented.
The SC had once ruled that worshiping God by building temples on public places is an insult to Him. Even allowing such illegal structures is a sin, the court had ruled. The apex court, April 19, had asked the state government to inform it about the steps taken to demolish the illegal shrines.
The government told the court that out of 906 illegal shrines in Cuttack, only 68 have been demolished, 27 have been shifted and 286 were regularised by the administration.
Advocate Prabhat Ranjan Das said, “The government has failed to take steps to address the issue. It must formulate a guideline in this regard and prepare a list of illegal shrines which would be demolished.”
The government should abide by the rulings of SC and HC and it should not approve any proposal by an individual or organisation for construction of shrines without a proper survey,
he added.
DGP KB Singh said demolition drives are being undertaken in compliance with the SC and HC orders. Police would provide all possible support for the demolition drives in future, he added.
CMC commissioner Gyan Das said, “Illegal shrines are being razed at several places in the city. However, stay orders issued by the court have halted the drive. We will resume the demolition drive once the stays are vacated.”
Cuttack collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra said, “Illegal temples are being razed and the drive will continue after a survey.”
