Temple structure: KMC, Bahria Town directed to ensure protection

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday directed the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) and a construction firm to take immediate measures for protection of the structure of 150-year-old Shri Ratneshwar Mahadev Temple in Clifton from damages that might result from construction of a flyover and two underpasses in close proximity to it.
MPA Mukesh Kumar Chawla and All Pakistan Hindu Panchayat's secretary general have approached the court seeking its directives to provincial authorities for safeguarding the historic building.
The counsel for petitioners submitted that Bahria Town has undertaken a project from the Park Tower traffic intersection to the A T Naqvi Roundabout, which included the construction of a flyover in front of Park Towers and the underpasses near the Kothari Parade in Clifton. He said that their existed unrest among the Hindu community about the construction that had posed a serious threat to the foundation of temple. "Historical temple which was a national heritage was put in danger by commencement of the project."
The counsel submitted that as a result of excavation near the temple site, 40-feet-deep ditch was left open, which might cause collapse of old structure in case of rains which were expected next month. He said that retaining walls were required to be built in order to protect the temple from damages. He apprehended that if urgent repair works were not carried out, walls of temple might collapse putting in peril the building, lives of worshipers who visit the temple as well as the religious idols and symbols.
During preliminary hearing, a division bench headed by Chief Justice Maqbool Baqar had directed authorities concerned to ensure full and effective safety and security of the subject structures under the supervision of qualified and reputed civil engineer. On Tuesday, Syed Sultan Ahmed, counsel for the KMC and Khalid Jawed Khan, counsel for Bahria Town, undertook to implement the court's earlier order to preserve the subject structure from all kind of damages and destruction. In the light of their undertaking, the court adjourned the hearing to October 3 and directed them to place on record the progress report.