The World Alliance of Parsi Irani Zarthoshtis (Wapiz) on Friday warned that fire temple lands in the city were under threat from unscrupulous developers and said one of its main objectives would be to protect such properties.

On the eve of Wapiz’s first anniversary on May 28, founder trustee Yazdi Desai said for the past 10 years some Parsi builders had set their eyes on plots of land surrounding fire temple buildings in prime localities in the island city.

He alleged that there was an attempt to grab a portion of the land belonging to the Kappawalla fire temple at Tardeo. “Though the building is in good condition, instead of repairing it there is a proposal to redevelop the property,” he claimed.

Wapiz was formed last year by a group of traditionalists to oppose a proposed cosmopolitan world body whose membership would have been opened to non-Zoroastrians and converts.

Wapiz also discussed the Rs one crore sanctioned by the Gujarat government to the Foundation for Development of Udvada, a small village in Gujarat that houses the community’s ancient consecrated fire.

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