The move comes as a response to the Allahabad High Court’s recent intervention questioning MVDA on failing to act in the matter.
Vrindavan, 2022-05-24 (Vrindavan Today News): Acting against illegal constructions in the vicinity of protected heritage monuments in Vrindavan, the Mathura-Vrindavan Development Authority, on Monday, demolished three unapproved structures built on protected areas around Madan Mohan, Ashtasakhi and Radha-Damodar temples. The move comes as a response to the Allahabad High Court’s recent intervention questioning MVDA on failing to act in the matter.
Yesterday a team of the MVDA led by deputy collector Aditya Kumar Prajapati razed three illegal properties belonging to Swami Gokulananad Shri Shanti Hari Mandir, Mor Mukut Goswami and Mamta Sharma in the ASI protected zones around Mandan Mohan, Ashtasakhi and Radha Damodar temples respectively.
While Swami Gokulananad Shri Shanti Hari Mandir had built a room and column slab on a 200 sq yard plot near Madan Mohan, Mor Mokut Goswami constructed two shops without approval from the MVDA. Mamta Sharma had encroached nearly 250 sq ft of protected land around Radha-Damodar temple for illegal construction of 12 rooms and a staircase. All three structures were bulldozed by the MVDA team on Monday.
Junior engineer Ashok Chaudhary said that despite several notices served to them the owners did not pay heed to the warnings.
MVDA’s tough stance comes in the wake of Allahabad High Court’s recent intervention in the matter, seeking an explanation from it as well as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on the permission granted for 1180 illegal constructions around the ASI protected Madan Mohan Temple. The court also questioned the Development Authority on why it was able to act upon only 150 of them so far.
Further, an RTI filed by Vrindavan-based activist with ASI, Agra revealed that between January 2010 and 22 June 2021, a total of 1118 show cause notices were issued and FIRs filed in matters pertaining to illegal construction around protected monuments. Notices for the demolition of 283 illegal structures were issued by Sr. director ASI New Delhi, while DM Mathura was directed to act against another 110. The MVDA failed to comply with the said orders.
