In Varanasi, the number of structures either fully demolished or currently under demolition in Dalmandi has surpassed 100. The district administration and the Public Works Department (PWD) have intensified negotiations with the management of six mosques that lie along the alignment of the road widening project.
Options Offered to Mosque Managements
Officials have presented two options to the mosque managements: either allotment of land for the reconstruction of mosques through the PWD, or compensation in place of the affected structures. They added that all possible efforts are being made to complete the demolition of the remaining identified buildings by the end of May.
Progress Update by PWD
Executive Engineer KK Singh stated that more than 100 buildings have been demolished so far. He added that the process of acquisition and demolition of identified structures has reached nearly 60 per cent. Singh further noted that owners and occupants of the remaining around 80 buildings, excluding the six mosques, are also submitting relevant documents to establish their claims. “We are expediting negotiations to ensure that demolition of all marked structures is completed by the end of May,” he said.
Negotiations with Mosques
Officials are tight-lipped over the process of negotiation with the management of the six mosques. Mainly, the district administration officials are in talks with these managements. Officials said that parts of some of the six mosques, and in certain cases their entire structures, fall within the alignment of the proposed road widening project. “A proposal has been given that in place of whatever portion is affected, new construction will be made within the unaffected portion,” said officials. If any mosque is fully impacted by the project, the executing agency will construct a similar mosque on land provided by the respective mosque management. Alternatively, if the management prefers, compensation will be paid in lieu of reconstruction.
Waqf Properties Affected
Two waqf management properties, including a madrassa and Musafirkhana, are among over 100 structures that have been covered under the process of razing so far.
Project Details
The Rs 224 crore project was launched to convert the 650-metre Dalmandi road into a 17.4-metre-wide road by purchasing or acquiring a total of 187 buildings and razing them. It will improve access to Kashi Vishwanath Dham’s gate-4 from the Naisadak point on the Lahurabir-Godowlia road, and shift load from other roads, especially the Maidagin-Godowlia route.
Security Arrangements
As the situation becomes increasingly sensitive with the proposed action on identified mosques approaching, Additional Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Shivhari Meena conducted a review of the entire project site and surrounding areas to assess the ground situation and finalise an action plan along with all necessary arrangements.
