Nagpur: Even as the citizens frustrate over parking woes in Nagpur, the Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis has cleared the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) mini market policy that will allow sanction for commercial structures having less parking area. This has raised concerns over the parking problem going worse in near future.
Fadnavis has also directed water resources department (WRD) to release water from Totladoh (Pench) irrigation reservoir for Rabi crop.
Fadnavis held a review meeting here on Tuesday to clear pending projects of the NMC with the state urban development department (UDD).
Guardian minister Chandrashekar Bawankule, additional chief secretary Pravin Pardeshi, UDD principal secretaries Nitin Karir, Manisha Mhaiskar, officiating mayor Deepraj Pardikar, municipal commissioner Ashwin Mudgal, collector Sachin Kurve, ruling party leader Sandeep Joshi, additional municipal commissioner Ravindra Kumbhare, MLAs and others were present. Mudgal told TOI that the CM informed that the UDD has approved mini market policy.
As per the policy, building plan sanction will be given for commercial construction even in 300 sq m plot area for G+2 floor structure. Such structures will comprise of shops with built-up area of only 11 sq mt. Parking area will be very less. Parking facility has to be provided for only one car, 10 two-wheelers and five bicycles.
The structures will be permitted on roads with minimum width of nine metre in congested area and 12 metres in non-congested area. Vegetable or fruit vendors, general stores, saloons, beauty parlours, meat sellers etc who run their establishments on roadsides or on footpaths will benefit from the policy.
NMC sources told news media that Fadnavis did not gave any concrete assurance over increasing NMC’s GST grant from Rs51.36 crore per month to Rs88.63 crore per month. “CM suggested NMC to concentrate on new sources of revenue and increase income from property tax,” sources said.
Sources added Fadnavis did not take final decision on waiving NMC’s Rs85.82 crore dues towards Water Resource Department for reservation of 50 million metre cube (MMC) water. “CM said it requires policy decision for all A and A+ municipal corporations,” the sources said.
After going through presentation on Smart City, Fadnavis asked the NMC to start housing schemes and infrastructure works like roads in area based development (ABD) areas — Pardi, Punapur, Bharatwada and Bhandewadi — as soon as possible. “NMC was told to plan housing schemes under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana on 22 acres NIT land at Bharatwada and Punapur.
Fadnavis asked the NMC to take a loan of Rs25 crore from Maharashtra Urban Infrastructure Development Company Limited for shifting electric poles and wires from IRDP roads.
West Nagpur MLA Sudhakar Deshmukh complained about improper drinking water supply in his constituency. Fadnavis said a special meeting will be held to review city’s water supply.
Bawankule told TOI that the CM has asked WRD to release 100 MMC water for Rabi crops and ensure sufficient water for the NMC. “The decision will bring big relief to farmers,” he said.
