Ayodhya Mosque Project Hits Snag: Development Authority Rejects Plan Over Pending NOCs and Land Use Issues

The highly anticipated mosque complex in Dhannipur, Ayodhya, envisioned by the Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation (IICF), has hit a significant roadblock. The Ayodhya Development Authority (ADA) has officially rejected the building plan for the ambitious project, citing a raft of pending No Objection Certificates (NOCs) and crucial land use discrepancies.

This revelation, brought to light through an RTI (Right to Information) reply, underscores the administrative hurdles facing the construction of the Mohammad Bin Abdullah Masjid and its associated facilities.

According to the RTI response, the ADA pointed out that the IICF's submitted plan lacks essential NOCs from various critical departments.

These include clearance from the Aviation Department, the Fire Department, the Environment Department, the Irrigation Department, and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The absence of these mandatory approvals means the project cannot move forward as per current regulations.

Beyond the missing NOCs, a fundamental issue lies with the land itself.

The five-acre plot allotted for the mosque complex in Dhannipur is currently designated for agricultural use. However, for the proposed project – which includes a mosque, a 200-bed hospital, a community kitchen, a library, and a research centre – the land classification needs to be converted to residential or public use.

This conversion process is a prerequisite for any construction to commence, and its pending status further complicates the approval process.

The Indo-Islamic Cultural Foundation, the trust tasked with building the mosque complex, acknowledges these challenges. They have stated their commitment to addressing the issues raised by the ADA.

A spokesperson for the IICF confirmed that they are actively working to secure all necessary NOCs and are pursuing the crucial land use change. Despite the current setback, the foundation remains optimistic, expressing hopes that the project will soon get off the ground once all bureaucratic requirements are fulfilled.

This project holds immense symbolic significance, emerging from the landmark 2019 Supreme Court verdict in the Ayodhya title dispute case.

While the court awarded the disputed land in Ayodhya to Hindus for the construction of a Ram Temple, it also directed the Uttar Pradesh government to allocate a five-acre plot in a prominent location within Ayodhya for the construction of a mosque. The Dhannipur site was subsequently chosen for this purpose.

The proposed Mohammad Bin Abdullah Masjid is designed not just as a place of worship but as a comprehensive community hub.

The 200-bed multi-speciality hospital is intended to serve local residents, a langar (community kitchen) will provide meals, and a dedicated research centre and library will foster education and interfaith dialogue. The rejection of the building plan, though a temporary delay, highlights the rigorous administrative processes involved in such large-scale public infrastructure projects, particularly in sensitive areas.

As the IICF continues its efforts to secure the required clearances, all eyes remain on Ayodhya.

The resolution of these administrative hurdles will pave the way for a project that aims to embody peace, community service, and cultural understanding, fulfilling a crucial aspect of the Supreme Court's historic judgment.