Govt turning blind eye to encroachments on PDKV area, but eyes its land in Dabha

Nagpur: Land belonging to College of Agriculture, affiliated to Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV), is not only used for research purpose but also is the green lungs of the Orange City. However, most city politicians cutting across party lines want the land for various non-agricultural projects.
Of late, whenever the state government wants to construct some mega project it eyes PDKV land. Now a case has come to light where government instead of helping PDKV in removing encroachments from a land reserved for farmers’ convention centre wants another piece of land in Dabha for building the centre.

A demand has been raised for acquiring 9.77 hectares land at Dabha for the centre. This land is currently being used for agroforestry by the university. The encroached land in Kachipura is already reserved for such a centre in development plan of the city.

Out of the 26.78 hectares PDKV land in Kachipura, 19.50 hectares has been encroached by those hailing from the Kachhi community, which basically engages in farming. A source in PDKV said, “Cases are going on in the lower court since 1970s. The Kachhi community has got stays on the eviction notices. We are thinking of hiring a big lawyer and approaching the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court to get these stays vacated. However, the government is showing no interest in the land and instead wants our land in Dabha.”

Of late, many from the Kachhi community have sublet the land to various eateries, marriage lawns, garages and other shops. As per an RTI reply, these include Vishnuji ki Rasoi, Farmhouse Kitchen, Samadhan Saoji, a Hyundai service centre and even office of a politician Prashant Pawar, who often flays the government for violating rules.

PDKV sources said that government was not interested in removing the encroachments as many of the encroachers were influential persons.

PDKV officials said already there are three farmers’ convention centres in the city. “Central for Citrus Research Institute (CCRI), Central Institute for Cotton Research (CICR) and Veterinary College have shetkari bhavans which have lodging facilities as well as canteens. We are also building a convention centre on our land in Maharajbagh. So, why does the city needs another shetkari bhavan,” asked a PDKV official.

The Dabha land is not the only land under threat. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has sent a proposal to acquire PDKV land along VIP Road for constructing a cycling and walking track. It also wants land along Wardha Road for a mega parking plaza.

A 500-metre long and 18 metre wide road has been planned from Maharashtra Jeevan Pradhikaran (MJP) land on Telangkhedi Hanuman Temple Road to Bharat Nagar. Another road has been proposed for linking Central Bazar Road with South Ambazari Road. Both these roads will pass through PDKV land.

Earlier, during Congress-NCP rule the government had demanded the Wardha Road land for a convention centre.

In 1950s, College of Agriculture had 410.20 hectares land in the city but lost 59.48 hectares over the decades to various state and central departments. Now, it has 350.72 hectares in its direct possession. Of this recently some land along North Ambazari Road has been given to MahaMetro.

The source in PDKV said, “If we yield to demands of various agencies and give away our land then we will not be able to meet the criteria of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and lose our recognition. The politicians must realize this. Moreover, the open spaces are green lungs of the city.”