Residents out with crosses against BMC

Two days after the BMC put up notices of demolition on crosses, a large number of residents gathered at the H (West) ward office, Mount Carmer church, and some even met the municipal commissioner in a show of protest. 

At H (West) ward, residents came out with crosses to oppose any demolition move. The corporators from all the parties were also present during the protest.    

The BMC served a 48-hour notice stating that 729 crosses were illegal and would be demolished.

The notices were issued after a case in the court held that all the religious structures post 1964 were illegal and should be demolished. 

“The issue could have been handled better. They should not have put up notices on the crosses. Officials from the ward realised that and apologised but we still persist that they look into their records for the legality of the crosses,” said Anil Joseph, vice chairman of the Bombay Catholic Sabha.

Deryk Talker of Wake Up Bandra said: “We appreciate that the BMC apologised. We understand they think crosses are illegal, but people were upset that notices were pasted on them. According to us, all have their own plot numbers and they are not illegal.”

Vice-chairman of the minorities commission Abraham Mathai, Joseph Dias of the Catholic Social Forum, and corporator Ashish Shellar pressed the issue with civic chief Subodh Kumar.

He said: “I’ve told them that even if it is mentioned in the city survey, footpaths and roads are public property. The extension was not given by me. It is given by the ward to review the issue. We will take action accordingly.”