Nagpur News.
A delegation of Vidarbha Taxpayers Association (VTA) led by its President J. P. Sharma met Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Rural Development, greeting him with floral bouquet and also wishing him all success, including Narendra Modi Government for early recovery of economy and simultaneously formation of state of Vidarbha at the earliest.
Sharma submitted memorandum and requested union minister that two portions of National Highway No. 7 i.e. MP/MH Border to Mansar i.e. from Km 652.00 to 689.00 and another section from Km 123/000 to Km 153/000 of Nagpur – Hyderabad in the State of Maharashtra are of pathetic condition are full of potholes; the condition is so worse that a heavy vehicle literally have to drive at speed of 5 km/hour to avoid damage to vehicle and its tyres.
Tejinder Singh Renu, secretary of VTA informed minister that Nagpur Hyderabad section work is delayed due to slow work by contractor, however Mansar Khawasa section is held up as the Standing Committee of the National Board of Wildlife (NBWL) in the meeting of the Meeting of Forest Advisory Committee (FAC) held on 12th & 13th September, 2013 has recommended and approved proposal that diversion of 49.246 Ha Forest land for construction of 4-laning of NH-7, however NHAI thereafter have submitted proposal in prescribed format (Part I to V) to the Chief Conservator of Forests, (Wildlife) – Pench Tiger Project for information and for further approval vide Letter No. NHAI/PIU/NGP/NH-7/Forest/2013/3125 dated 23.10.2013, however almost 8 months have passed and said approval is still not pending.
Renu submitted another memorandum alongwith copies of High Court Order and affidavit filed by AFCONS assuring completion of project by October 2014 and requested minister’s intervention for early completion of Ram Jhula; similarly a memorandum along with supreme court order prohibiting dark films was also submitted requesting Transport Minister to reconsider Apex Court’s direction as heat during summers in majority parts of India becomes unbearable and some relief is sought.
Nitin Gadkari assured VTA delegation that work of these two patches of NH7 will start very soon and on Ram Jhula he said although this project comes under State Government, however he’ll write to MSRDC with appropriate directions. On dark films issue, he said that once Supreme Court has passed order, our ministry has limited scope, but since VTA has prepared detailed memorandum on the issue, I’ll direct my ministry to go through and see what can be done.
Others present in the meeting were Pravin M. Agrawal – Joint Secretary, Amarjeet Singh Chawla, Saqib Parekh, Rajesh Kanoongo, Yogendra Mohan Singh, Narinder Pal Singh Osan, Govind Patel, Rohit Kanoongo and Rahul Agrawal.
