Submit KP development plan, conduct chhatri’s structural audit: High Court

NAGPUR: Expressing disappointment over the pitiable condition of Kasturchand Park, the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court on Monday asked all respondents to submit a detailed development plan of the historic venue.
A division bench comprising justices Ravi Deshpande and Pushpa Ganidewala told them to also file structural audit report of chhatri (dome) and other adjacent structures before the next hearing.
Amicus curiae Shreerang Bhandarkar was asked to come up with suggestions on how the ground surface could be levelled so that sporting activities could be restarted there. The amicus had earlier suggested three-layer levelling, like at cricket stadiums.
The directives came while hearing a suo motu PIL (No 45/2017) regarding encroachments and neglect of the historic place, based on media reports.
After their spot inspection on Saturday, the judges noticed “a very sorry state of affairs”.
“There is a total variance between what is placed on record before us by way of various affidavits and the actual condition of ground. We, therefore, express that we shall have repeated visits to see compliance of the directives given by this court,” they said, adding that they would prepare a detailed inspection report soon.
Observing that the heritage structure is in a very bad shape, they said, they brought these facts to the notice of collector Ravindra Thakre, Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) commissioner Radhakrishnan B, and architect Ashok Mokha, who’s also an NMC heritage committee member. We directed them to take out photographs of existing condition and place on record structural audit of this heritage Grade-I monument,” they said.
Defending their spot inspection visit, the judges clarified that if they hadn’t visited, public interest in real sense could not have been achieved. “We realized the importance of spot inspection. We could see that there earlier was actual filth on the ground. However, after the passing of the last order, half-hearted efforts were made for levelling it,” they added.
Pointing out that the ground is completely uneven, the judges said it could not be utilized as a playground, at least for the present. “We’re not blaming anyone, but we wanted the glory of heritage Grade-I monument to be restored. For that purpose, concerted efforts are required. A definite plan needs to be chalked out and accordingly, certain directions need to be issued,” they said.