Kanhan/Nagpur: A construction company was fined Rs 6.95 lakh for ‘stealing’ sand and water from Kanhan River for construction of a railway bridge on the river. Parshioni Tehsildar slapped the fine on Meher Foundation and Civil Construction Company as the company was found utilising sand and water of Kanhan River without permission and thus causing revenue loss to State Government. The company is constructing a bridge on Kanhan River in Parshioni Tehsil since the past four and a half years. Role of Revenue officials is also under scanner as no action was initiated against the construction company in the past.
Kanhan River is known as lifeline of Nagpur district. The contract to build a bridge on National Highway at Kanhan has been awarded to Khare and Tarkunde Company but the work is going on in tardy pace. The work of constructing a railway bridge on Kanhan River has been assigned to Meher Foundation and Civil Construction Company and the work was started after monsoon last year.
Both the construction companies were found utilising sand and water of Kanhan River indiscriminately without permission. Despite notices and warnings, the ‘theft’ of sand water continued. On December 12, 2018, Parshioni Tehsildar Varun Sahare carried out a surprise inspection and slapped a fine of Rs 6.95 lakh on the construction company under Section 1966 of Maharashtra Land Rule 48/8. The construction company was given a deadline till March 31, 2019 to pay the fine without fail.
However, as the company failed to pay the fine, Kanhan Patwari Mahendra Kshirsagar went to the spot for confiscating machinery and vehicles of the defaulter company and according informed the Project Officer of Meher Foundation Company Sachin Devkate. Faced with the tough action, the company immediately paid the fine, Tehsildar Varun Sahare informed.
Following scanty rains last year, Kanhan River has dried up at many places. Farmers are facing lot of hardships due to crop loss. Many areas in and around Nagpur city are facing drinking water shortage. On the other hand, the construction companies were utilising water of Kanhan River freely and indiscriminately for construction of bridges without permission and causing revenue loss to State Government.
