The Times of India 03.09.2012
No move to remove encroachment on London Street
NAGPUR: Laxmi Nagar zone officials of Nagpur Municipal Corporation
(NMC) are protecting two influential contractors and delaying action
against them for encroaching on the proposed London Street land despite
strict directives given 20 days ago. Even the estate department
officials do not seem to be interested in razing the encroachments.
The two big contractors, RM Goplani and Dilip Rathi, have encroached on
long stretches of land on proposed London Street project worth around
Rs 700 crore. The contractors have got rent-free use of the land for the
last four years. Officials from Laxmi Nagar Zone and estate department
were aware of the encroachments but failed to take any action against
the contractors.
The officials didn’t even report the encroachment to NMC
head office. The estate department had rejected an application by Rathi
to utilize the land, a couple of years ago. However, the contractors
have been utilizing the land for various works with the nexus of NMC
officials.
Taking cognisance of TOI reports on encroachments by
the two contractors near Indraprastha Nagar between Lokseva Nagar and
Khamla, additional deputy municipal commissioner Ravindra Kumbhare had
directed officials to raze the encroachments and recover penalty.
However, junior engineer from Laxmi Nagar Zone Vivek Telrandhe only
inspected the encroachments and sent a report to the estate department.
Slamming the delay, Kumbhare signed the note and directed immediate
action. However, the contractors continue to occupy the land. Goplani
has even increased the materials, including sand and metal, lying on the
land.
Estate officer DD Jambhulkar said officials of Laxmi
Nagar zone have been directed to raze the encroachments. “I will issue
reminders to the officials,” he said. Sources told TOI officials of
estate department, which has jurisdiction over London Street land, have
not even visited the site yet.
Telrandhe said the directives
reached his office a couple of days ago, adding, “We will raze the
encroachment in few days.” Telrandhe was mum when asked about delay in
initiating action.
Deputy engineer from Laxmi Nagar Zone VV Kahalkar was not available for comments despite repeated attempts.
Besides the encroachments by contractors on the London Street, shanties
too are cropping up on the land. Scrap dealers too have started to use
the land in a few stretches. The weekly vegetable markets too are
increasing on the land.