Nagpur: Acting on the directions of the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Monday demolished four unauthorised bridges constructed over a nullah in Kachipura-East Shankar Nagar, clearing obstructions that had severely restricted the natural flow of stormwater.
The demolition drive followed the High Court’s August 4 directive concerning unauthorised constructions over the drainage channel. The civic administration deployed JCB machines and teams from the Central Encroachment Removal Squad-II and Dharampeth Zone’s anti-encroachment unit to carry out the operation.
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According to civic officials, cement-concrete slabs and bridges had been constructed across portions of the nullah without permission, effectively covering the drainage channel and encroaching upon civic land. The structures were allegedly created to provide access to commercial establishments in the area.
Four illegal bridges razed
The demolition was carried out at four locations, the access road towards Corner House Dhaba, the road leading towards Apna Dhaba and NH-1, a stretch near the premises of Jagdish Saoji, and the approach road towards Sai Vatika.
During the drive, Sai Vatika manager Vijay Talewar allegedly obstructed the NMC team and abused anti-encroachment personnel. Police reinforcements were called to the spot and a case was registered against him.
Talewar was subsequently taken to the police station, following which the civic team resumed the demolition and completed the operation.
Only 50 metres of 400-metre stretch remained open
The nullah, which flows from West Shankar Nagar towards East Shankar Nagar, serves as a key natural drainage channel for the locality.
The extent of the obstruction had emerged during an earlier inspection. Of the nearly 400-metre stretch examined by officials, only around 50 metres was found to be open, while the remaining portion had been bridged or covered at several places.
The illegal structures had substantially reduced the width and carrying capacity of the natural drainage channel, raising concerns about the impact on stormwater discharge during heavy rainfall.
Action amid Nagpur’s recurring waterlogging
The NMC’s action assumes significance as Nagpur has witnessed repeated incidents of waterlogging and localised flooding during intense spells of rain.
Officials and civic experts have repeatedly stressed that encroachments and unauthorised structures over natural drains can restrict the movement of stormwater and aggravate flooding, particularly when rainfall intensity rises sharply within a short period.
The Kachipura action also comes against the backdrop of growing judicial scrutiny of the NMC’s handling of unauthorised constructions in the area.
HC had questioned delay in action
The High Court had earlier questioned why action had not been taken against unauthorised structures despite demolition notices reportedly being issued as far back as 2016 under Section 53(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act.
The latest demolition therefore marks a significant enforcement action following the court’s intervention.
NMC officials said the drive would continue and all unauthorised structures obstructing the nullah would be removed.
The High Court has also pushed the civic administration towards preparing a comprehensive stormwater drainage plan for Nagpur, aimed at addressing the city’s persistent drainage deficiencies and reducing the risk of flooding during heavy rainfall.
