NAGPUR: Following the Maharashtra government’s decision to lift a decade-long stay on action against illegal constructions on land belonging to Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) at Kachipura, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has taken steps to address 56 commercial establishments occupying nearly 19.82 hectares along Central Bazar Road.
Civic officials clarified that there are currently no proposals to demolish the adjacent Kachipura slum, home to around 1,200 residents.
Dharampeth zone assistant municipal commissioner Rajkumar Meshram informed TOI that notices under Section 53(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966, will soon be issued, granting occupants 15 days to either remove unauthorized structures or face demolition by the NMC.
“We are preparing the notices, which will be reviewed by senior officials for approval. All occupants will be given 15 days as stipulated by the MRTP Act. We will proceed according to the law,” Meshram stated.
This initiative follows an order from the urban development department on June 23, rejecting an appeal by a group of occupants and lifting interim protection granted in 2016. The state government affirmed that the NMC was justified in rejecting building permission requests and initiating demolition procedures back in 2015.
Meshram mentioned that notices were previously issued to the establishments in 2015, and hearings for 26 applicants challenging the actions have been completed. “All 56 encroachments are proposed for removal,” he noted, adding that the matter is also slated to be reviewed by the high court on June 29.
The contested area, situated between Bajaj Nagar Square and Kachipura Square behind East Shankar Nagar, has evolved into a bustling commercial zone, featuring restaurants, banquet halls, marriage lawns, gas godowns, automobile service centers, offices, and various other businesses. Officials indicate that several of these establishments may be owned or supported by politically influential individuals.
The NMC began action under sections 53 and 55 of the MRTP Act in July 2015 after uncovering extensive unauthorized commercial activities on agricultural land leased to PDKV under Khasra Nos. 104 to 209. Many establishments reportedly do not possess the necessary building permissions or no-objection certificates from the NMC’s fire and emergency services department.
Meshram reiterated that there are currently no plans to demolish the adjoining slum settlement. Sources indicate that any action to clear Kachipura would require denotification by the state government and the development of a rehabilitation package for eligible residents. Until that occurs, the notified slum is protected from civic demolition actions, despite the renewed focus on commercial encroachments by the NMC.
