Facing backlash over demolition of a temple in Nanjangud, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday introduced a bill in the assembly to protect unauthorised religious structures facing demolition in a damage-control exercise by the government.

The Karnataka Religious Structures (Protection) Bill 2021 envisages providing protection to all religious structures, including temples, churches, mosques, gurudwaras and other major religious constructions, in public places which have come up without the requisite sanction from competent authorities.

While the bill aims at protecting illegal religious structures built before the date of its enactment, it also seeks to prevent construction of illegal shrines in public places such as roads, streets, parks and playgrounds.