MUMBAI: A major controversy has erupted in Pimpri Chinchwad, a city 15 km northwest of Pune in Maharashtra, after municipal authorities issued demolition notices to 16 mosques in the Kadalwadi area, sparking widespread anxiety and protests among locals. The notices, pasted on Thursday afternoon, claim that the mosques were built “without permission” and must be demolished within 15 days.
The move has been sharply criticised, especially since many of the mosques were built before 1995, when the area was governed by a Gram Panchayat and not a Municipal Corporation.
An emergency meeting of mosque trustees and local leaders was held on Thursday night to discuss the situation. Among those present were Niaz Siddiqui, Muhammad Naeem, Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry, Zikrullah Chaudhry, Dr Saeed Ahsan Qadri, and Meraj Chaudhry, along with other concerned citizens.
Speaking to Clarion India, Abdul Shakoor Chaudhry said, “It is shocking that notices have been issued for mosques built before the Municipal Corporation even existed. At that time, under the Gram Panchayat, there was no requirement for such permissions.”
The Municipal Corporation’s notice cites provisions from the Construction and Urban Development Planning Department, ordering demolition within 15 days, warning that demolition costs will be recovered from mosque committees. It also states that failure to comply will result in a fine of Rs 5,000 and possible criminal charges.
Trustees argue that all mosques, whether old or newly built, regularly submit their accounts to the Charity Commissioner. They also point out that none of the mosques obstruct government projects or pose any hindrance to public safety.
“None of these mosques block any road or fire brigade access. This action seems selective and unjustified,” said Muhammad Naeem, another trustee.
Interestingly, notices have also been pasted on some temples in the area, mainly linked to upcoming road widening projects. However, the targeting of mosques that predate the corporation’s formation has raised serious concerns.
According to local leaders, similar notices have been issued to a total of 31 religious places, including mosques and temples, in Chikhli, Kadalwadi, and Yadav Nagar areas. The Municipal Corporation has justified its move by pointing to concerns over fire incidents caused by illegal structures like warehouses and chemical storage facilities, which, they argue, delay firefighting operations.
