Coimbatore: Coimbatore Consumer Cause has petitioned the Hindu religious and charitable endowments department (HR&CE) demanding that they shift the three temples located on the national highway road in Gandhipuram.

Though alternate land was provided to shift the temples, the department had not done it so far, the non-profit organisation said in a petition. Presence of the temples in the busy area has resulted in delay of construction of service roads, subways and flyover, the petition said.

“The highways department is in the process of completing the first level flyover and is likely to open it soon for public use. Unfortunately, the HR&CE department is not co-operating with the administration and have not shifted the three temples - Arulmighu Siddhi Vinayagar Temple, Kannanur Mariamman Temple and Muniappa Swami Temple. They were asked to shift them six years ago,” said NGO official K Kathirmathiyon.

Highways officials said that they had held many meetings with the HR&CE officials. “Based on their representation, the revenue department allotted alternate land in Kattoor and ‘enter upon permission’ was granted to HR&CE on February 25, 2016. Twenty months have passed after the order was sent, but no action has been taken,” said a highways department official.

Kathirmathiyon said as the temples are on the national highways road, it is a case of encroachments. “From 2011, several meetings were conducted exclusively to discuss shifting of the temples. Even the Supreme Court had issued orders to remove temples on public roads and issued strict instruction to chief secretaries,” he said.

If steps are not taken to shift the temples within 10 days, the NGO would file a petition with the high court, Kathirmathiyon added.