Nagpur Improvement Trust decides to allot 18k sq ft Harpur land to woman

NAGPUR: Yet another case of improper allotment of Harpur land has come to fore. A woman had asked for the land to set up a petrol pump. Even though a petition regarding the land is pending in Nagpur bench of Bombay high court, with adverse recommendations of HC-appointed Gilani Committee, the board of trustees of Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) had decided last month to send the proposal for state government’s approval.
TOI had on November 14 reported that CM Eknath Shinde, when he was urban development (UD) minister, directed NIT to lease 16 plots of Harpur land to 16 persons, despite the pending petition and Gilani panel recommendations. Activist Anil Wadpalliwar had filed a petition in 2004 challenging the proposed regularization of layout comprising these 16 plots. The Gilani Committee had recommended using land for housing for economic weaker section (EWS) in 2018.
Citing TOI reports, amicus curiae Anand Parchure had told the HC that Shinde’s decision amounts to interference in administration of justice. HC had on December 14 granted status quo, following which Shinde withdrew his order.
Documents available with TOI show the NIT board of trustees in a meeting on September 20 approved allotment of three plots measuring 18,167 sq ft from Harpur land to Swati Narayan Sav, a resident of Vishvakarma Nagar, to set up a petrol pump. The decision was confirmed in the board meeting on November 16. Later, NIT sent the proposal for approval to the government.
Considering the HC order in the decision taken by Shinde, the latest case also amounts to interference in administration of justice, as these three plots are also part of Harpur land.
Most officials at NIT are aware of Wadpalliwar’s petition as well as inquiry by the Gilani Committee as NIT is respondent in the case. Also, Gilani Committee had written many letters to NIT. Still, NIT South Division said the three plots; no. 10 (6,546.15 sq ft), 11 (5,810.4 sq ft) and 12 (5,810.4 sq ft), and worth around Rs7.3 crore, were available for a petrol pump.
NIT’s town planning department has said that the user of the three plots was residential, and petrol pump was permissible on it. NIT’s valuation department confirmed the plots are owned and in possession of the civic agency.
The decision to allot three plots to the woman without public auction is a violation of NIT’s Land Disposal Rules (LDR), as NIT has to give equal opportunity to all interested persons or organizations to get the land. Still, NIT has sought relaxation of this condition from the government to allot land to a particular individual.
HC had set aside two such decisions of the government and NIT, saying public auction is mandatory as per NIT’s LDR.
NIT sources told TOI a member of Parliament had recommended allotment of the land to the woman.
BOX
FENCE EATING LAND
* NIT acquired 42.88 acre owned by Shamjibhai Kheta and took possession on July 23, 1981
* 9.5 acre allotted for indoor sports stadium, which is not complete, and abandoned since 2004
* 5.98 acre allotted for office of Employees Provident Fund (EPF)
* 3.37 acre used for roads
* 3.61 acre open space is encroached
* 5.6 acre in possession of 16 persons following Shinde’s order
* Proposal to allot 18,167 sq ft to a woman for petrol pump
* NIT will be left with 14 acre