Sena (UBT) questions concrete laid at Bhairavnath temple premises in Satara, seeks action against contractor
Shiv Sena (UBT) workers and villagers have asked the Satara mayor to order an impartial technical inquiry into the concreting of the Bhairavnath temple premises in Gadkar Galli.
Political and social tempers have risen in Satara over development work carried out at the premises of the Shri Pedhya Bhairavnath temple in Gadkar Galli, regarded as the village deity's shrine. The Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) faction submitted a memorandum to Mayor Amol Mohite, asking directly why a premises that had natural footpaths, soil and greenery was brought under concrete.
The memorandum demands an immediate on-site inspection of the temple premises and a technical and impartial inquiry into the concreting work.
On the initiative of city chief Pranav Sawant, villagers of Gadkar Galli and Sena workers met the mayor. They showed photographs from before and after the concreting and claimed that the original natural character of the temple premises had changed. They asked what the need for concrete was when natural footpaths existed.
They also demanded to know who prepared the design of the work, on what technical standards it was approved and which experts were consulted.
The memorandum said work done with public funds should not merely look good but be of good quality and long lasting. It therefore sought an inquiry into the estimate, technical approval, materials used, quality of work and the responsibility of the contractor concerned. The villagers' stand is that if irregularities or substandard work are found, strict action should be taken against those responsible and the contractor should be blacklisted.
Questions were also raised about the tree plantation at the temple premises. The memorandum demanded that an account be made public of how many trees were planted, how many survived and how much was spent on their upkeep.
The administration was also asked to take firm steps to preserve the sanctity of the temple, ensure the safety of devotees and maintain discipline on the premises. Angry villagers said, "In the name of development, the natural existence of a place of faith should not be destroyed."
