Mumbai: Members of the Parsi community have snubbed their high priests’ assurances that Metro III project will not affect the structural stability and spiritual sanctity of their fire temple at the Princess Street junction in Girgaum. The community has decided to launch its own separate peaceful agitation by seeking support from the Christian community.

Members of Parsi and Christian communities met at the St Teresa’s High School on Charni Road on Sunday, where Parsi experts told the Christian community that the St Teresa’s Church will also be affected as the tunnel alignment for Metro III line will pass under the centre of the church.

On November 10, two Parsi high priests, Dasturji Khurshed Dastoor, and Mumbai’s high priest Dasturji Dr Feroze Kotwal, met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. They were convinced by the explanation of Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (MMRC) that the structural stability of their 187-year-old Wadia Atash Behram (one of the most revered fire temples) at the Princess Road junction won’t be affected by the tunnelling work of Metro III.

This change in stance by the two high priests has irked the laity who have decided to overlook their decision.

Hanoz Mistry, a community activist, said that the Parsis are not supporting the high priests’ decision.

“The community in general is unhappy with the turn of events. The government has assured that all aspects of the structural stability of the Wadia Atash Behram are being taken care of. But what about the spiritual sanctity?” said Hanoz Mistry, the community activist.

Pervez Cooper, another activist, said that the community has decided to go ahead with the agitation despite assurances from their high priests and the CM.

“First, our high priest Dasturji Dr Feroze Kotwal advertised in our Jame Masjid paper on a Sunday that he was in favour of the Metro realignment. Then he turned his back on us and turned tables suddenly. This is unacceptable to us. We seek to have a common platform with Christians who will learn through our findings that their church will also be affected,” said Cooper.

Jamshed Sukhadwala, an expert and structural engineer, said that the issue did not just concern the structural stability but Parsi sentiments as well.

“Any intrusion below the holy fire is not permitted because the connection between the heaven, the fire and the earth should not be intruded. Moreover, the whole fire temple structure is bound by certain magnetic fields which should not be disturbed. In simple terms, fire is the most sacred and is supposed to be the Ahura Mazda – a living entity,” he said.

Sukhadwala explained that whenever a Parsi enters a fire temple s/he enters with negativity in them.

“We are allowed to cross the protecting fields only up to the third field. The fire is surrounded by first three circuits where only Parsi priests can go. One goes to a fire temple to gain purity and shed negativity. Moreover, when the temple is consecrated the outermost circuit is on the boundary of the fire temple and during periods ladies don’t enter the fire temple. Any tunnel going within the campus of the fire temple will also have women with periods travelling by Metro. This will affect the purity and sanctity of the fire itself,” said Sukhadwala.

The community members also opined that the tunnelling process could adversely affect the water tables used for various liturgical ceremonies, which are done inside the Atash Behrams, and there was a possibility of their wells going dry, Mumbai Mirror repoted.

Fr Anthony Fernandes, parish priest, St Teresa’s Church, said that the Christian community has filed an RTI to know the actual facts.

“When the earlier plan was shown to us, the Metro alignment went from the side of the road of the church. Parsis have come to us to apprise us of the facts. We don’t want to go against the Metro development. We want a win-win situation. For us, it doesn’t matter if the Metro alignment goes from under the church. But the iron bars going down is a concern as it could cause vibrations in our heritage church. For me, no human life should be in danger,” said Fr Fernandes.

Advocate Godfrey Pimenta said that the community will take a stand only if it affects the structural stability of the church.