Ex-corporator expedites works after receiving letter from NMC to stop

Nagpur: Former Congress corporator Kamlesh Chaudhary has expedited construction of cement concrete residential building in the catchment of Futala lake after receiving a letter from Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) Dharampeth Zone for stopping all activities. As usual, the civic body has remained mute spectator.
After TOI’s news, NMC Dharampeth Zone had on August 22 issued a letter to Chaudhary’s mother — Meena, also a former corporator, directing stoppage of all construction till further orders.
A visit to the site on Tuesday revealed works have been expedited with more workers on the job. Work of laying cement concrete slab on ground floor has commenced. Residents of Hazaripahad said the works were also going on a day ago.
Officials from NMC Dharampeth Zone said Chaudhary has stopped works since receiving the letter a day ago. “We will inspect the site tomorrow and take appropriate action if the works are continuing,” they said.
NMC had also directed Chaudhary to submit all relevant documents related to construction within three days, which deadline will end on Wednesday. He is yet to submit documents like building plan sanction, said officials of NMC Dharampeth Zone.
TOI had reported Chaudhary does not have building plan sanction from NMC town planning department. He had submitted an application, which is pending with the department.
Either Punjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) or Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (Mafsu) is said to be the owner of the land. The two universities had confirmed to TOI no permission was given to Chaudhary for construction of residential building.
NMC too cannot give sanction as per guidelines of Wetlands (conservation and management) Rules.
The central government had notified Futala Lake as a wetland. “Any construction of a permanent nature, except for boat jetties within 50 meters from the mean high flood level observed in the past ten years calculated from the date of commencement of these rules are prohibited within notified wetlands,” the guidelines state.
Chaudhary is constructing residential building within the catchment area of the lake.
This is not the first time Chaudhary has mocked NMC’s notices. In 2019, NMC issued a notice to stop commercial activities including lawn. But he continued to operate the lawn. The booking office is a concrete building and untouched since 2019.
The civic body had demolished a temple in the same premises during a drive launched across the city. Chaudhary had constructed a new concrete structure for the temple. An illegal hoarding is also erected at the entrance of the premises along Vayusena Road.