NAGPUR: Civic agency Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) has begun the process of acquiring land for its 2,318 acre mega township near Jamtha. It is signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the land owners. So far 25 MoUs have been signed covering 210 acres.

PM Kide, superintending engineer (metro region), said that NIT chairman
Pravin Darade had explained to all 300 land owners how they stood to
benefit from the township. “We had distributed literature in English
mentioning all details of the project. Now we are providing them Marathi
copies. More land owners are expected to sign MoUs in coming days,”
Kide said.

Sujata Kadu, deputy director of town planning (metro
region), said land would be acquired through land pooling. “The farmer
will hand over his entire land to us. We will develop it and give back
60% to the owner. They will have to pay some development charges to NIT.
In case they do not have the money we will return only 50% land. The
choice rests with the owner. MoUs will enable us know the area we will
have in our possession and that to be returned to land owners,” she
said. The owners of sanctioned layouts will get back 75% of the land but
they will have to pay more money than farmers.

According to
Kadu, many land owners who suffered losses due to various town planning
norms would get relief due to NIT project. “The regional plan of Nagpur
district is still in effect in the township area. Therefore any land
beyond 200 metres of village limits cannot be used for non-agricultural
purpose. Similarly, land up to 100 metres on both sides of Vena river
and that under high tension transmission lines are also no development
areas. NIT will keep these areas in its share and give land without
development restrictions back to owners.”

She further said that
due to pooling, no land owner will be discriminated against. “Suppose
we have to construct a wide road in the township. If the regular method,
is followed the land of one person gets acquired and he is given
monetary compensation. On the other hand, the person whose land lies
next to the road reaps the benefits. We pool the entire land in the area
and after constructing the road distribute the land in proportion of
their original holding among all owners,” she explained.

On
getting clearances for the township, Kide said NIT board had cleared the
development plan of the township and it would be sent to state
government for approval. “We will start acquiring land through pooling
only after suggestions and objections are invited from public and dealt
with,” he added.

‘Scheme first in state’

Nagpur: Taking first step towards developing the metro region, Nagpur Improvement Trust
(NIT) has prepared a plan for what could be a small town near Jamtha.
The scheme will come up on 1,000 hectares on outer ring road and contain
all basic amenities.

Chairman of NIT Pravin Darade told TOI
that the scheme was first of its kind in entire state. “Plans like these
have been implemented in Ahmedabad. The scheme will cover five
villages- Kirmiti, Khadka, Sumthana, Panjara, and Shivmadka- situated
near Jamtha. Consent of around 500 land owners and villages had been
taken. The plan was ready and would be sent to state government within
three months for approval. The scheme may increase the value of land by
almost ten times when fully complete,” he said.

Superintending
engineer Sunil Gujjalwar said the land owners will benefit. “NIT will
provide all basic amenities including 12-metre or wider roads, water,
sewage lines, gardens, streetlights etc. NIT will keep 40% of the land
for amenities and remaining 60% will be with owners. The value of the
land with the owners will automatically increase due to availability of
basic amenities in the area. The owners may develop layouts or construct
flat schemes etc. The scheme will be well connected to outer ring road.
NIT is also planning to go for widening of outer ring road on this
stretch from existing 60-80 metres to 150 metres,” he said.

The
specialty of the scheme will be development in a proper manner that too
in hassle-free atmosphere. The owners will not be required to go for
changing user of land from agriculture to non-agriculture. Besides, the
NIT itself is developing the scheme, so no question of authenticity,
permission etc.

NIT hopes the scheme would be the first
landmark of metro region. The development of metro region in proper
manner would ease rising congestion in city and also accommodate the
ever-increasing population. NIT is also preparing the development plan
of entire metro region. The draft plan is likely to be ready by
December. It will finalize the plan after inviting suggestions and
objections from citizens.

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BIG PLAN

* A township spread over 1,000 hectares (10 sq kms)

* Owners retain 60% land while NIT gets 40% for amenities

* NIT to provide all basic amenities in the area

* Scheme will cover five villages

* Township on outer ring road