Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has razed
Bhoipura fish market that was running on both sides of road in front of Mayo Hospital for decades. The civic body has asked the fish wholesalers and retailers there to shift to its new fish market at Mangalwari.
NMC personnel from market and enforcement department reached Bhoipura in the morning. The team led by assistant commissioner (market) Vijay Humne asked all the sellers to vacate the area. Then it razed the encroachments made by the sellers on both sides of the road connecting Central Avenue with Bajeria.
Humne told TOI 26 slots at Mangalwari fish market were lying vacant and were better place for the fish sellers of Bhoipura market. “Market was established here encroaching upon the road. NMC has constructed 105 shops at Mangalwari of which 79 have been allotted. Various facilities including cold storage, godown etc have been provided there. It will help sellers get good market and citizens can use this road without hassles,” he said.
Humne added NMC was initiating action on large scale on encroachments for the last few days. “Action on fish market was part of the drive,” he said.
Bhoipura fish market was in very unhygienic condition. Foul smell used to pervade the area and troubled nearby residents. Also, fish entrails, blood etc were dumped on the roadside and in storm water drain.
NMC’s action appeared prompted by public interest litigation filed in Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court. One of the residents had filed a PIL on December 19 last year that will come up for hearing on August 1. The petitioner through advocate Shreerang Bhandarkar has demanded rehabilitation of the sellers and demolition of fish market.
Another resident said NMC had issued notice to fish sellers in 1984 but turned up for action only now. “HC had asked NMC and NIT way back in 1980s for construction of a new market for these sellers but nothing happened,” he said. The residents said sellers would again encroach upon the roads and revive market if NMC failed take regular follow up action.
A fish seller said Mangalwari was far away from Bhoipura so their business will be hit. “We should be provided place in Central Nagpur itself. The facilty at Mangalwari was not adequate for wholesalers,” he said.
Kelibag road leaseholders get fresh deadline
Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has set a new deadline of July 31 for its 36 leaseholders for vacating the shops for Kelibag road widening and concretization project. The earlier deadline of July 25 was ignored by shopkeepers.
NMC team had to return without demolishing the shops following strong opposition from leaseholders and shopkeepers on July 23. Municipal commissioner Virendra Singh along with the NMC officials visited the area and held discussion with the leaseholders. Singh gave new ultimatum of July 31. NMC will forcibly vacate the shops and demolish them on August 1.
Leaseholders and shopkeepers say NMC is yet to acquire other shops on the road so project cannot start by demolishing their 36 shops. They are requesting NMC to raze these shops along with others. They also also asking for alternate space for their business in the same market. NMC is yet to start tendering process for the project.
NMC razed the encroachments made by the sellers on two sides of the road connecting Central Avenue with Bajeria.
