KOZHIKODE: A temple and a masjid have joined hands to fight land acquisition for widening of NH-66 on the current alignment.
The Narasimha Parthasarathy temple at Thiruvangoor and Muhiyudheen Juma Masjid at Vettilappara are separated by a few kilometres along the NH-66 between Kozhikode and Pookad.
THey say as per the current alignment of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) expanding the stretch into 45 metres, the temple would lose some 20 cents and the masjid a significant portion including its cemetery.
“The National Highway Authority of India has put the mark-stone near to the flagstaff of the temple installed on a broad foundation beneath. It would be affected besides the entrance of the temple. No temple can allow an entry from any other direction other than the front,“ said the temple committee member U.K. Raghavan who heads the joint action panel.
He instead suggests acquisition of the land on the other side which is largely uninhabited and without any buildings.
“If so, not only both the temple and masjid would be safe, but also the road widening is possible,” he points out.
The temple and masjid committees had approached National Highway Authority of India, district collector and revenue department separately with alternative suggestions but to no avail. Hence, they floated a 51-member group for a joint fight.
“The joint committee will stage a sit-in in Thiruvangoor on October 29,” said masjid committee president Mohammad P.K. Kunjinmayin E.K is its general convener.
