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MUMBAI, INDIA, December 17, 2003: Despite pressures from politicians of different hues, authorities have demolished more than 900 illegal roadside shrines in India’s financial capital over the past several weeks. Most structures were occupying large chunks of footpaths. Many had been in existence for years, some for decades. Over the past weeks, civic officials have worked out a comprehensive plan to demolish the structures. “There were protests initially, but with the help of the police we managed to convince people that the demolitions were carried out on the basis of court orders,” says a civic official at Borivli in north Mumbai. The local Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials say the residents are persuaded to respectfully remove the icons after one last prayer session before the external structure is demolished. According to the corporation, a total of 1,430 illegal shrines exist all over the city. These are mostly Hindu temples, but also include a few Buddhist prayer halls, mosques or crosses erected by Christians. Initial attempts at demolishing the shrines had drawn protests from the Shiv Sena, the Archbishop of the Catholic Church and Muslim and Buddhist groups.

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