UP Govt to Soon Raze Religious Structures Built on Sides of Roads, Highways, Pavements

The Uttar Pradesh government is all set to raze religious structures built on sides of roads, highways, pavements and lanes post 2011. This move comes after a high court order.

The government has directed district officials to submit a list of such structures to the principal secretary or the secretary concerned, and he/she will then submit a detailed report to the chief secretary in the next two months.

“The government has directed that no structure/construction of religious nature should be allowed on public roads (including highways), streets, pavements, road sides, lanes etc. If any such structure/construction has been built after January 1, 2011, it should be removed immediately,” an official statement read.

The statement said that the instructions have been issued in accordance with the order of the high court. The government further said that if the structure was built before the above mentioned date, a policy would be formed to remove it too within six months.

Recently, Bengaluru civic body too formed a comprehensive policy for removal or relocation or regularisation of illegal religious structures, constructed prior to September 29, 2009, on public streets, parks and other public places.