Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday called on respondents to make concerted efforts and come out with a concrete plan for beautification and maintenance of Kasturchand Park keeping in view its future needs.
A division bench comprising justices Nitin Jamdar and Anil Kilor directed all stakeholders to advance their scheduled February 18 meeting on the subject convened by Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) Heritage Conservation Committee (HCC). The bench also asked collector Ravindra Thakare and State Public Works Department (PWD) officials to attend it.
Earlier, NMC, through counsel Jemini Kasat, submitted a structural audit report of the Chhatri, a heritage structure at the historic place, as per HC directives. It also filed a detailed affidavit on the steps taken to comply with a slew of court directives since the last four years when the suo motu PIL was filed in 2017. The civic body listed various steps on conservation of the park, once used to host big political rallies, exhibitions and other events.
Both documents were filed in response to a suo motu PIL, where Shreerang Bhandarkar was appointed as amicus curiae, regarding gross misuse of historic place due to negligence of district administration, who often rent it out for commercial activities.
On January 13, the judges had sought details of compliances of its orders and if there are impediments, the solutions from HCC. They also asked if any assistance or coordination is required from any department or organization in this regard.
The bench had directed all the statutory authorities and the government departments to act in aid of the HCC for achieving the task of maintenance and preservation of the heritage structure and ground which is a precinct. If any assistance is suggested by HCC for this purpose, it shall be rendered.
The HCC admitted before the court that it was under mandate to ensure that the heritage structures are preserved and maintained. It also accepted its responsibility to preserve and maintain the ground surrounding the structure being a precinct.
“Since the regulations require HCC to maintain and preserve the structure as well as ground around it, we place responsibility for ensuring the compliance of court orders and preservation of structure and ground surrounding it on HCC as in any case, it’s duty bound to do so,” the judges said.