HC: Complete devpt works at KP by Oct

Nagpur: Expressing concern over delay in various developmental and beautification works at Kasturchand Park, the Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Tuesday directed the respondents to complete the same by October.
While hearing a suo motu PIL (No. 45/2017) on encroachments and neglect of the historic place, division bench of Justice Ravi Deshpande and Justice Amit Borkar asked the respondents to fill in all the pits, level the ground and also remove encroachment, if any. “This work is to be done within two weeks from today and file compliance report,” the bench said before adjourning the hearing.
Earlier, amicus curiae Shreerang Bhandarkar pointed out to the court that pits have been dug up in the Kasturchand Park, which is classified as a heritage structure. He also highlighted that encroachments have still not been removed and the ground is in poor condition as it wasn’t levelled till date.
Referring to the NMC’s affidavit of June 27, the bench pointed out that recreational facilities like beautification, compound wall, gates, parking bay, toilet blocks, electrification, ground levelling and flag mast area among others were planned to be developed at the place.
Collector Ravindra Thakare had also filed an affidavit informing that MahaMetro was granted permission for station construction by dismantling the protection wall of 23 metres from LIC Square to RBI Square. A public toilet was being constructed by NMC in south-east direction. For constructing walking, jogging, cycling tracks and plantation, collector said he had granted permission to Solar Industries’s Shyam Mundada.
The HC had taken suo motu cognisance of a media report on encroachments for second time regarding non-compliance of its directives of April 27, 2017, to stop any illegal activity on the ground. “The media report presents a disturbing and dismal picture of KP ground and old structure. It indicates that the pavilion there is under illegal occupation of squatters and major portion of the ground is in a shambles. The HC can’t remain silent spectator to this brazen misuse,” the judges had warned.