News Detail

<p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">A temple in honour of the serpent God, Sheshnag, in the middle of a road project, has halted the construction of 33 Km long Bada bypass on NH-24 connecting Delhi with Lucknow via Bareilly, and linking the city with Nainital and Pilibhit highways.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Ironically, while diehard followers of Sheshnag temple called &#39;Vilaydham&#39; are sparing no effort to save the shrine, the courts including the Allahabad high court have refused to acknowledge the spot as having any religious significance.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The shrine, which would be shifted or demolished to make way for the bypass, is visited by hundreds of people daily. However, Bareilly town officials said the administration and contractors have decided not to buckle under public pressure and go ahead with the project.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">The bypass would help in easing traffic bottlenecks in Bareilly by diverting movement of heavy vehicles via the new bypass. But once the construction work reached the temple spot, zealots began opposing it fearing demolition of the shrine. They squatted, stalled laying of pillars and filled up the trenches. Fearing a public backlash, the team of engineers and laborers fled.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Bareilly mayor I S Tomar said the bypass would solve the traffic woes of townsfolk but work has stalled because of the inflexible attitude of the temple authorities. They have refused to acknowledge the court verdict as well, he said, which ruled out any religious significance of the &quot;shrine&quot;.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Bypass project director Anil Tiwari said land has already been sanctioned and NHAI has served a notice to Vilaydham authorities to remove blockade. But Vilay Gyan Dharmarth trust chairman Pradeep Kumar said, &quot;As per rules, if a religious shrine comes in the way of construction of a road, authorities must get government&#39;s permission to remove it. Till now, the concerned agency hasn&#39;t sought any such permission.&quot;</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">District officials disagreed saying all clearances are in place for the removal of the shrine after the high court order and action will follow soon.</span></span></span></p> <p style="text-align:justify"><span style="color:#696969"><span style="font-size:11px"><span style="font-family:arial">Source-On Request</span></span></span></p>