Yet another heritage structure is abused

BMC issues notices to shops adjoining the 150-year-old Hari Baba ki Bungli

Mumbai’s mills are not the only ones to be exploited commercially. One of the city’s oldest heritage structures at Bhuleshwar is the latest to fall prey to commercialisation. Shops manufacturing statuettes of gods and carving metal sculptures have mushroomed adjoining this structure.

The 150-year-old Hari Baba ki Bungli, a two-storey bungalow inside the well-known Mota Mandir Jain temple, was being vandalised right under the civic authorities’ nose. Taking serious note of the violation, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), this week, has served four notices under the Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act (MRTP) for allowing change of user without permission to two commercial structures adjoining the Bangli.

BMC has also served a stop-work notice to the temple trustees who were carrying out construction activities inside the temple without prior permission. The commercial establishments have been given a month to vacate their shops.

The ward officer of the area, Sharad Dalvi said that action has been taken based on a complaint by the Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) last month. The complaint also mentioned that old statues from inside the Bungli have been stolen. “Having served the notice, the BMC officials should make sure the structure isn’t exploited anymore,” said DM Sukthankar, former MHCC chairman.

The Bungli is part of the 200-year-old temple built by Jains hailing from Surat.