Nagpur: Over a 1,000 illegal religious structures currently slated for demolition are likely to be regularized, with only around 200 remaining in the list for demolition.The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court had on September 19 directed Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to conduct a fresh survey and prepare list of unauthorized religious structures in three categories: A, B and C. Category A will comprise illegal shrines that can be regularized. The illegal shrines that deserve to be demolished are in category B, and those that can be rehabilitated in category C.Accordingly, NMC has prepared fresh list of 1,235 illegal religious structures. Of them, 1,049 are in category A and remaining 186 in category B. It means 1,049 shrines are eligible for regularization and 186 will have to be demolished.NMC has submitted the list to 15 members of city-level committee to verify and revert with their opinion. The committee is headed by municipal commissioner. The members are representatives of various departments like NIT, police, traffic police, state PWD, nazul department, MHADA etc. These departments will verify the structures on their properties and give opinion. Then, the committee will take final decision and issue notification for suggestions and objections from the public.A NMC official told TOI a number of structures in category A are situated on public utility (PU), open and recreational spaces. “Some structures in category B have cropped up after the Supreme Court judgement dated September 29, 2009, and remaining encroaching on footpath plus open spaces but not obstructing traffic,” he said.After receiving suggestions and objections from the public, the committee will prepare list of structures in category C that can be relocated.As of now, NMC, NIT and couple of other government departments have demolished around 600 illegal religious structures, most located on roads, footpaths and road dividers.NMC has also prepared a list of 110 structures that are standing on roads, footpaths and road dividers. NMC and NIT will demolish these structures.The HC will next hear the case on January 3. NMC is likely to issue notification for suggestions and objections, and submit it at the hearing. The HC has given a month for suggestions and objections, and another three months for preparing the final list.Meanwhile, the state government is likely to approve NMC general body’s decision dated August 10 for regularization of illegal shrines on public utility (PU) lands, open and recreational spaces. If approved as it is, the illegal shrines will be regularized without any hefty charges or penalties.The fresh list of 1,235 structures proves the number of illegal shrines has increased. After the SC order dated September 29, 2009, NMC had identified 1,521 illegal religious structures between 2011 and 2013. Only 18 were regularized citing heritage significance. List of 175 structures was forwarded to the state-level committee, as they were constructed before 1960. Of remaining 1,328 structures, the NMC had received objections related to 80 in 2014. Therefore, the NMC finalized the list of 1,248 and started demolition.Now, total number of structures goes up to 1,945 if one sees fresh list of 1,235, the 110 slated for demolition, and 600 already razed.

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