Church demolition orders not to be enforced in Kandhamal

The Orissa government's demolition orders on churches in Kandhamal will not be enforced, a high-ranking official has assured Christians in the state.

Rajesh Prabhakar Patil, the District Collector of Kandhamal, told a delegation of Christians that the order for demolition of churches was issued by his juniors and he would not authorize the same.

About five churches had been covered under the order for demolition or halt to reconstruction on basis that it was built on government land.

The delegation, according to Agenzia Fides, had informed the district collector on their right to rebuild more than 230 churches and chapels that were destroyed during the anti-Christian violence in 2008.

They also discussed on the continued harassment and intimidation of Christians, and on the compensation of victims who lost homes and property.

The district collector reportedly has promised to look into the issues raised by the delegation.

The demolition orders were issued last month when Christians were marking the third anniversary of the 2008 violence.

Christian families taking shelter at a resettlement colony in Nandagiri in G Udayagiri district received a notice for the reason that they constructed church on government land.

"You are directed to leave the place and take away all things and demolish the church under construction within 30 days, or else, all things and properties shall be seized and the church under construction shall be demolished," the order states.

Christians argue that the land where worship is being temporarily conducted was acceded to be gradually allotted for a church.

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) had earlier in a petition to the Chief Justice of India called for restrain to the demolition order and pleaded for support to the victims.