The BMC has received 178 suggestions and objections on the status of illegal shrines in the city. The civic body had announced a list of 534 illegal shrines and had given a 30-day period till January 28 to the concerned parties to respond to this matter. However, following fervent public demands, the BMC had further extended the deadline to February 12.
According to the civic sources, any shrine existed before 1964 will be of legal status. People objecting the illegal status of these shrines were asked to submit the necessary documents to prove that the shrine existed before that period.
“The deadline expired on Tuesday and so far we have received 178 suggestions and objections. People have also submitted documents about the shrines and asked for hearing to decide their status. Some have also asked for shifting of the shrines instead of demolition, while some have drawn attention to new shrines in their areas,” said a senior civic official.
According to sources, these suggestions and objections will be sent to the respected ward offices for scrutiny. The ward officer will hear them and a report will be submitted to the civic level committee, headed by the municipal commissioner.
The committee will decide whether to demolish, shift or regulate them and depending on its findings, a detailed report will be sent to the state government to decide on the course of action.