NAVI MUMBAI: Cidco launched its drive to demolish illegal religious structures in Airoli on Friday. Fearing backlash, Cidco had its own security contingent, apart from local policemen. The structures included 8 temples, s mosque and 2 Buddha viharas. The demolitions were carried out amidst protest from devotees.The move is as per a Bombay high court judgment and a state government General Resolution dated November 5, to demolish all illegal religious structures by December 31. Cidco had been planning for months to crack the whip on illegal structures affiliated to different religions. With the deadline approaching for submitting a compliance report, Cidco CUC kicked off the drive to clear as many as 66 such structures that have come up after 2009 from November 25 to December 2.“We launched the drive with adequate security arrangements and cleared encroachments from 11 Cidco plots in sectors 2, 3, 4, 10, 19, 20 and 20A in the day-long drive. We will continue the drive to clear all such structures in Navi Mumbai,” said P B Rajput, controller of Cidco CUC, who led the drive. Prashant Khaire , deputy commissioner of police (DCP-zone I), told TOI that more than 100 cops were stationed to ensure the drive went off peacefully.