Whether in the upmarket localities of Jubilee Hills or Banjara Hills or slums in the city, places of worship have been built on government land that is now worth crores of rupees. Many shrines are located bordering roads, causing obstruction to the movement of vehicular traffic. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation has failed to check the establishment of new religious structures or stop the expansion of the existing ones that are located along the roads or on government property.
Four years ago, the Supreme Court has issued directions to the state governments to ensure that no new religious structures are constructed on government lands and roads, but the directive is ignored and the number of such shrines has only increased. “The religious structures on road margins not only cause traffic jams but act as major obstacles for development, particularly road widening. In the first place, why does the GHMC allow a religious structure to come up on government land, mainly roads?” asked O. Debara, vice-president, Right to Walk Foundation.
When the GHMC tries to get the shrines to move out, those who manage the affairs of the shrines demand alternative land. According to the GHMC records, its 3,042 square yards of land has been encroached by mosques, 759 square yards occupied by churches or allied structures, and 7,492 square yards encroached by temples. There are several hundred shrines that do not show up in the records.
“We have been negotiating with managing committees of shrines after the Supreme Court order. We have been able to relocate 20 religious structures of various faiths. Religious sentiments are attached to the issue. The job of relocating religious structures is easier said than done. A strong political will is needed. Recently, a shrine was relocated at Uppal in connection with the Hyderabad Metro Rail project,” a senior official in the GHMC said.