The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Demolition of church wall for Metro rail opposed

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Wednesday, Mar 02, 2011
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Demolition of church wall for Metro rail opposed

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: A notice by Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) to demolish the compound wall and portico of 86-year-old St. Anthony's church, Mettuguda has prompted the church members to protest on Tuesday. The church devotees and members of St. Anthony's Bhajan Society said that the demolition will hurt the sentiments of devotees, visiting the church on a daily basis.

On Tuesday, the members of the church organised a relay hunger strike and requested authorities to cooperate and provide them with ‘alternatives' in case the demolition was inevitable. The church is spread over 650 square yards and if the demolition takes place, then it will stand to lose close to 300 square yards.

Alternative land

“We plead with authorities to provide alternative land, the railway quarters (quarters no 21 and 22) located adjacent to the church. Authorities should also pay for the reconstruction of the church,” said Father Yeruva Joji Reddy of St. Anthony's Church. The devotees said that the church is visited by believers from all faiths and demolishing half portion of the church was bound to upset their sentiments.

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Andhra Pradesh