Lets Save Our Crosses
The demolition of the Cross at Hathibaug, Mazgaon was the epicenter of a quake that has sent ripples of pain, hurt, sorrow and anger in Christians not only in Mumbai but in the country and all over the world.
The Government has been wishy washy about the whole affair sending conflicting signals to their own departments and the citizens. While the Hon’ble Chief Minister promised more time to our delegation that had gone to meet him along with an MP and MLA, demolitions of three Crosses were carried out in the next two days. While the CM was apologizing to Cardinal Oswald Gracias on the hurt caused to the community one more Cross was removed at Dadar. Subsequently a 15 day moratorium has been offered but the Municipal Commissioner is adamant and says that he will continue the demolition drive as soon as this period is over.
The BCS is considering legal measures but is important to take proactive steps to make sure that the heritage crosses are saved. We request you to show your hurt feelings over what has happened by demonstrating in some way or the other.
Some of the ways could be as listed below-
1. Offering special prayers during prayer of the faithful at Mass.
2. Organising Candle light vigils with prayers and singing.
3. Saying the Rosary at the Crosses that have been served notices.
4. Wearing black bands with Cross inscribed on the sleeve.
5. Releasing black balloons at gatherings.
We are not against shifting the Crosses that are impediments to traffic or pedestrians but we request that the same should be done in a reverential manner.
A number of groups are working on collecting information and records on these Crosses. H-East, H-West, K-East and K-West are already being taken care of by some groups. We need action teams for rest of the wards. See ward-wise list of Crosses earmarked for demolition as per the BMC comprehensive list of religious structures in the attachment.
As per a departmental circular issued on March 3, 2011 all religious structures up to April 17, 1964 will be considered tolerated structures. Hence caretakers of Crosses are asked to produce proofs / records of the existence of the Cross prior to the date.
The records that are acceptable are:
1. Strong Proof of the existence of the Crosses prior to the date are CTS No. /Property Card/ City Survey Plan/ Tika Sheet/ Ghar patti (tax receipts)/
2. Photograph of individuals/ groups/ functions in front of the Cross with other proof correlating the age of the person/ certificate of marriage etc.
3. Copy of any record of correspondence related to the Cross with the BMC, Police or the Collector.
4. Proofs of religious structures in the region are also maintained by the Police Stations. Details of the same can be obtained from them.
The BCS had already sent warnings of the impending crises two months ago by circulating the news in the form of emails and circular of the newspaper report that stated that 729 religious structures in the city were earmarked for demolition. We had also asked the community to keep records of the existence of the crosses prior to 1964 handy for such an eventuality.
The BCS swung into action from day one. See details enumerated below-
1. Protested to the press about the Notices that were pasted on crosses in Bandra late on Saturday, Feb 26, 2011.
2. Organized a protest at the H-West Ward together with other groups on Monday morning.
3. Participated in a meeting at Mt. Carmel Church where the DMC apologized for pasting the notices and defacing the crosses.
4. Met the Municipal Commissioner to seek more time. He refused to relent.
5. Met Cardinal Oswald Gracias to discuss the issue. He assured us full support.
6. Met Hon'ble Minister of Minorities Affairs Mr. Naseem Khan who spoke to the Municipal Commissioner to give more time for showing the proofs.
7. Met Hon'ble Chief Minister Mr. Prithviraj Chavan together with a MP, MLA and representatives of other groups. The CM promises more time for producing the proofs.
8. Met other groups who are accumulating records of Crosses of the region at Irla.
9. Participated in a meeting at Mt. Carmel where it was decided that the BCS would be the umbrella body to represent this issue.
10. Participated in the Rally at Cross Maidan where Cardinal Oswald Gracias addressed the gathering.
11. Met the Cardinal to discuss the legal aspects of the issue.
12. Participated in the Solidarity Rally at O. L. of Glory Church, Byculla where the BCS President spoke.
13. Visited Hathibaug and met the locals.
14. Called for a BCS Special Executive Committee meeting to discuss the issue.
15. Passed a resolution in the Executive Committee meeting to file an appropriate petition in the SC.
16. Called for a meeting of Heads of Associations to have a consensus approach for the future course of action.
17. Prepared a list of Crosses that have been served demolition notices in Mumbai from the broad list of 729 religious structures that is prepared by the BMC.
18. Called for a meeting of the BCS Central Council to discuss future plans and delegate action for their wards.
19. Called for a meeting of a high powered legal team to decide future course of action.
The BCS was up to the urgent task although the earlier scheduled BCS Footcom tournament was in progress and the tournament was concluded successfully with the finals being played on March 6, 2011.
All this is possible due to the good teamwork displayed by the BCS office bearers. We look forward to your support for the completion of the tasks enumerated in the attachment.
Gordon D’Souza
President - The BCS
Mobile - 9819628388
prepared by BMC and earmarked for demolition as per the Supreme Court Orders.
The same can be seen in the attachment
Kindly note that no crosses from the H-West Ward feature in this list although they are served with notices. 16 additional Crosses have been served with the notices this time in addition to the 34 Crosses that were served with notices in 2003.
A - Ward
1. Sr. No. 5. Church Cross, Opp Sai Baba Mandir, Rajwadkar Street.
E - Ward
2. Sr. No. 132 'Cross' - DN Singh, Near Pramila Bhavan
3. Sr. No. 139 Cross – Dolkar Marg, Near Ahmed Manohar CHS
F- South
4. Sr. No. 193 Christian Cross- G D Ambekar Marg, Near Devrukhar Naka
5. Sr. No. 207 Christian Church- Bhairavnath Mandir Marg, Opp Auxilium School
F- North
6. Sr. No. 215 Cross – Nathalal Parekh Marg, Kailash Kunj, Opp Plot No. 170
7. Sr. No. 218 Cross – Prabhakar Sule Marg, junction of Nathlal Parekh Marg
8. Sr. No. 219 Cross – Prabhakar Sule Marg junction of R A Kidwai Rd.
9. Sr. No. 223 Cross – Shaikh Mistry Rd, Opp Muslim Kabrastan
G - South
10. Sr. No. 269 Christian Cross-Kashinath Bhave Marg, Worli Koliwada, Navneet Chowk
G- North
11. Sr. No. 288 Cross – Opp. Govindrao Patwardan Rd., Joseph Mansion, Dadar W
12. Sr. No. 289 Cross – Gokhale Rd (North), Near Amar Hind, Dadar W
13. Sr. No. 290 Cross – Babrekar Marg, Bhatia Bldg, Dindayal Udyan, Dadar W
14. Sr. No. 303 Cross – Gokhale Rd, Municipal School, Dadar W
15. Sr. No. 317 Cross – Savarkar Marg, Opp St. Michael Church
16. Sr. No. 320 Cross – Mori Rd., Near Andhra Bank, Mahim
17. Sr. No. 331 Cross – Shitladevi Mandir Rd., Opp. Victoria School
18. Sr. No. 333 Cross – Bhagoji Keer Marg, Opp. Nirvana Apt.
19. Sr. No. 334 Cross – Gabriel Path, MMC Rd., 11/4
20. Sr. No. 356 Church Cross – 30 ft. Rd., Shivram Sales and Service, Dharavi
21. Sr. No. 359 Church Cross – Maharshi Valmiki Marg, Dharavi
H- East
22. Sr. No. 403 Cross – Golden Aaram Bldg, Kalina Kurla Rd., Santa Cruz East
23. Sr. No. 404 Cross – Near Nariyal Wadi Municipal School, Santa Cruz East
K- East
24. Sr. No. 421 Church – Near Bank of Baroda, MC Chagla Marg, Andheri East
25. Sr. No. 433 Church – Marol Maroshi Rd., Gamdevi Talao Naka
26. Sr. No. 434 Church – Marol Gaothan Rd., Andheri East
27. Sr. No. 435 Holy Cross – Marol Maroshi Rd, Near Saraswat Bank, Andheri East
28. Sr. No. 442 Holy Cross – Andheri Kurla Rd., MC Rd Naka, Near Church, Andheri E
K- West
29. Sr. No. 457 Cross – Vallabhbhai Rd. St. Braz Rd
30. Sr. No. 458 Cross – Vallabhbhai Rd., SV Rd Junction
31. Sr No. 459 Cross – St. Xavier Rd., Baji Prabhu Deshpande Marg
32. Sr. No. 462 Cross – Beside Asha Colony, Juhu Rd.
33. Sr. No. 463 Cross – Pandya Lane Junction, Juhu Rd.,
34. Sr. No. 464 Cross – Opp. Centaur Hotel, Juhu Rd
35. Sr. No. 478 Cross – Church Rd., Near God's Gift Tower
36. Sr. No. 481 Cross – Near Yari Rd, Panch Marg Police Chowki
P - North
37. Sr. No. 533 Christian Cross- Tular Pakhari Rd, Malad West
38. Sr. No. 534 Christian Cross – Dominic Lane, Opp. Minakshi Apt., Malad West
39. Sr. No. 535 Christian Cross – Near D'Souza Market, Tank Lane, Malad West
40. Sr. No. 536 Christian Cross – Gaikwad Nagar, Opp Municipal School, Malwani, Malad West
41. Sr. No. 537 Christian Cross – Austin Bungalow, Kharodi Village Rd., Malad West
42. Sr. No. 538 Christian Cross – Mary View Society, Rathodi Village Rd., Marve Rd., Malad West
43. Sr. No. 539 Christian Cross – Near Madh Jetty, M A Jabar Publication, Malad West
44. Sr. No. 552 Christian Cross – St Mary Church, Valnai Nalla, Malad West
45. Sr. No. 557 Christian Cross – Asmita Society, Marve Rd., Malad West
L Ward
46. Sr. No. 626 Christian Holy Cross- L. Y. Municipal Market, CST Rd, Kurla West
47. Sr. No. 627 Christian Holy Cross- Zeesan Apartment, Christian Village, Kurla West
48. Sr. No. 628 Christian Holy Cross- Near Municipal Dispensary, Kurla West
49. Sr. No. 629 Christian Holy Cross – Near Dr. Datta Samant Union Office
50. Sr. No. 630 Christian Holy Cross- Opp. Rose Coop Society
51. Sr. No. 631 Christian Holy Cross- Christian Village Near Municipal Dispensary
52. Sr. No. 632 Holy Cross – Opp. Wins General Stores, Kurla West
M- East Ward
53. Sr. No. 677 Mother Mary Mandir, Vegetable Market, Tata Nagar Rd., Govandi
In order to search for the old records, plans and extracts please approach the following Offices:
(i) Areas from Mahim to Colaba and Sion to Colaba - the Development Plan Department on the 5th Floor of Municipal Head Office at Mahapalika Marg, Opp. CST Station, or the City Survey Department on the 1st Floor of the Office of the Collector of Mumbai, Old Custom House, Fort;
(ii) Areas from Bandra to Andheri - the City Survey Office at Santacruz (West);
(iii) Areas from Andheri to Kandivli - the City Survey Office at Goregaon;
(iv) Areas after Kandivli onwards - the City Survey Office at Borivali;
(v) Areas in “R” Ward - the City Survey Office at Borivali;
(vi) Areas from Kurla to Mulund - the City Survey Office at Mulund; and
(vii) Areas ahead of Thane – the Office of the Collector at Thane.
For more details contact the undersigned:
Mr. Gordon D’Souza - 9819628388
Mr. Anand Castellino - 9821133032
Mr. Lawrence D’Souza-9769392220
Mr. Anil Joseph - 9892055998
Mr. Don Aguiar - 9820603927
Mr. John Miranda - 9820681414
To
The Superintendent of Land records
Administration Building
X Floor
Government Colony
Opp. Chetna College
Bandra East
Mumbai 400051
The following is the text of a letter you may write to City Survey Officers to get documents urgently.
The Bombay Catholic Sabha is willing to give this letter to anybody who wishes to apply
SUBJECT: Demolition notices on Christian religious structures/crosses
Dear Sir/Madam
Pursuance to compliance with the Supreme Court Order with regard to the writ petition of the Union of India V/s State of Gujarat and others in Special Leave to appeal (Civil) no. 8519 of 2006, a number of Christian religious structures/crosses have been served notices of demolition by the Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai.
Caretakers of these structures have been asked to prove documents/records to the government to prove that they existed prior to the year 1964. We request you to provide the applicants with the city survey plans on urgent basis or let them have an inspection of the sheets that are pertaining to their needs.
Thanking you.
Yours sincerely
Gordon D’Souza
President – Bombay Catholic Sabha