Mumbai: The Christian community led a silent protest outside the civic ward office in Bandra West Friday against the proposed takeover of church land for road widening purposes.
Around 300 protesters including priests and nuns, NGOs and parishioners of Bandra Deanery joined the rally, some praying with rosary and candles.
Activists Godfrey Pimenta and Nicholas Almeida, Fr Austin Norris, members of the Bombay Catholic Sabha and nuns from St Joseph’s Convent said the proposed takeover of setback land from St Andrew’s Church and St Peter’s Church will damage their property, including the historic graveyards. The Tata Parsi Agiary could also come within the ambit of the project although its trustees have not received a formal notice as yet.
Assistant municipal commissioner of H West ward, Sharad Ughade had issued a letter on June 20 saying that there was “no road widening at present”. “However, when we sought clarification about the timeline implied in the phrase ‘at present’, the officer was non-committal. Our doubts are fuelled further,” said Pimenta. Ughade was not available for comment. The community fears that like previous instances, the land that is acquired will be ultimately lost to hawkers.
(Times of India)