Pune : Chota Shaikh Salla Dargah Trustees Assure To Remove Unauthorised Construction

Chota Shaikh Salla Durgah Trustee on March 9, 2024 in a letter informed that they will remove the extra construction done by the trust. In a letter written to the authorities, the trustees stated that Chota Shaikh Salla Durgah’s new building wherein the newly constructed part of the dargah such as illegal brick work, doors shall be removed. The letter stated that a discussion between the Dargah trustees, PMC and the Pune Police has taken place and they have decided to remove the unauthorised construction.

Also, the existing building of Chota Salla Dargah shall not be disturbed  or damaged while removing construction work of the dargah which has been gazetted as per 1972.

On March 30, 2019 PMC had issued a stop work notice that the construction work which was being carried out without permission shall be removed. If the trustees allow and as per law, if there is any renovation needed in the structure, it can be carried out through CSR or PMC authorities.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Ali Daruwala in a video also spoke about the incident. He said, “A decision of removing unauthorized construction at Dargah Hazrat Khwaja Shaikh Salauddin in Kasba Peth, Pune has been taken. Regarding the messages about the Shaikh Salauddin dargah in Kasba Peth, which became viral yesterday, the members of the dargah trust, PMC Commissioner Vikram Kumar & Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar held a meeting in which it has been mutually decided that the unauthorized construction done in 2019 will be removed. So, I request the citizens of Pune to maintain peace and harmony & I declare here that this has been resolved now.”

As per further information from a statement from the dargah trust accessed by Pune Pulse,

We, the trustees of Chhota Shaikh Salla Dargah today, on 9/3/2024, hereby jointly declare that the new Masjid of Chhota Shaikh Salla Dargah, as per the approved map, does not permit any additional/unauthorized brickwork, doors, windows, evictions, etc. After discussion with the administration, we agree to remove the said additional construction and the said trust is ready to evict it ourselves as per the municipal order.

·         No structure of the dargah at Chhota Shaikh Salla Dargah will be harmed during the operation and no damage will be done to the old mosque which was gazetted in 1927.

·         After issuing work stop notice by PMC on 30/03/2019, unauthorized extension of new mosque building in that area will only be evicted.

·         The applications received for the said construction permission in the future will be positively considered by the administration and legal decisions will be taken as per the rules.

·         If requested by the Trustees, the Municipal Administration through CSR will provide all possible assistance for renovation of existing structure according to law.

All the citizens are requested to cooperate with the Dargah Trust and the administration.