The Times of India                17.06.2013

Nashik Municipal Corporation breaks deadlock over Anandvalli plot

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation's general body on Saturday approved the civic administration's proposal to get the MIDC Anandvalli plot transferred to itself for a housing project under the Centre's JNNURM for slum dwellers and poor people.

The NMC also revised the amount to be paid to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation as compensation from Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.12 crore. With the general body's nod, the way is now clear for the commencement of the work on the housing project at Anandvalli. Mayor Yatin Wagh approved the proposal at the general body meeting on Saturday.

The Centre had under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) approved the building of 16,000 houses to rehabilitate slum-dwellers and people belonging to economically challenged sections in the city. The project was to be completed between 2008 and 2010, but received an extension till March 2014.

In the beginning, the NMC had appointed an agency to conduct a survey for the housing project. Accordingly, the agency had suggested the locations for the housing project and a 9,700 sq metre plot at Anandvalli was identified as the place where the houses would be built. The NMC had also started constructing on the land, after which it was revealed that the plot did not belong to NMC, but to the MIDC. The civic body then decided to pay the MIDC Rs 1 crore to get the plot transferred to itself.

The MIDC was also ready to transfer the plot to the NMC, but sought Rs. 1.25 crore as compensation. Finally, the civic administration revised the amount to Rs. 1.12 crore which was approved by the general body on Saturday.