Nagpur: Following devastating floods in September that wreaked havoc in the city, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Tuesday cracked down on encroachments in Gopal Nagar, demolishing 13 constructions on the nullah in the residential locality.
The Enforcement Department of Laxmi Nagar Zone took the action in Ward no. 37, near Jumle Shivan Kala which was constructed on the nullah. The residents of Gopal Nagar had approached Nagpur Bench of Bombay High Court seeking direction to NMC to demolish the encroachments as the same is the cause of flood water entering their homes.
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The petitioners attached data obtained through RTI and also photographs to highlight the encroachment by some people on the nullah. Due to blockade of the nullah, the flood water used to remain stagnant and flow back into the houses of citizens who faced the trouble.
The encroachments of Shantabai Gaikwad, Sitaram Tambe, Girijabai Karaskar, Bhaurao Chavan, Manda Nagrale, Ramesh Patel, Raju Bhongde, Ishika Raipure, Dhanvijay, Chhaya Meskar, Rangari, Sunita Lanjewar and Dongarwar were pulled down. The HC had issued orders on January 19, 2022, in the writ petition No. 7424/2023, but, NMC woke-up only after a year that too in aftermath of flash floods of September 23 when it realised need to free the choked-up flood pains to ensure that rain water moves away swiftly.
Earlier, NMC had issued notices to 13 people under the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act 260 on 29/01/2016. As per details released by NMC, Ramesh Patel’s 100 Sq. mtr construction, 180 sq.mtr. of Girijbai Karaskar, Dhanvijay, Sitaram Tambe’s 225 Sq. mtr;. Dongarwar’s 250 Sq. mtr, Raju Bhongde’s150 Sq. mtr, Lanjewar’s 400 Sq.mtr,Raipure’s 400 Sq. mtr, Rangari’s 144 sq. mtr, Manda Nagrale, Bhimrao Chavan and Shantabai Gaikwad’s 180 Sq.mtr respectively were demolished.
Though the encroachers tried to interrupt the demolition, the strong police bandobast ensured that NMC’s Encroachment Department did not face any trouble. As per Sanjay Kamble, Superintendent, Enforcement Department, NMC, two more constructions are going to be demolished on Wednesday and thereafter the entire nullah will be free for smooth flow of water.
The NMC also demolished the encroachment of Bakar Ismail Shaikh and others under Dhantoli Zone No. 4, behind Kumbhalkar College, at Ganeshpeth. The Zone had served notice on 22/2/2019 under Section 53 (1) of the Maharashtra Regional Planning and Town Planning Act, 1966. Anti-encroachment drive was also taken-up under Dharampeth Zone No. 02 from Zone office to Sitabuldi main road in which hawkers, stalls and temporary shops illegally erected on the road and footpath were removed on both sides of the road. And the area was completely cleared for the smooth flow of traffic.
This action was taken under supervision of Harish Raut, Asst Commissioner, Enforcement Department, Asst Commissioner, Laxmi Nagar Zone, Milind Meshram, Sanjay Kamble, Enforcement Superintendent Abhijit Netam, Dy Superintendent, Vinod Kokarde, Purushottam Pandey, Mahendra Suradkar and team.
