Nagpur Municipal Corporation asks Mafsu, Kamlesh Chaudhary to demolish restaurant within 24 hours, stop use of lawn

NAGPUR: The complaints of activist Jwala Dhote have forced Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to issue notice to Maharashtra Animal and Fishery Sciences University (Mafsu) vice-chancellor Dr Ashish Paturkar, and Meena, mother of former Congress corporator Kamlesh Chaudhary.
They have been directed to demolish within 24 hours the restaurant and other structures constructed in ‘unauthorized and illegal manner’. The civic body has also directed them to stop unauthorized operation of the function lawn.
Dhote, president of Vidarbha Anyay Nivaran Samiti, had lodged a complaint with NMC against construction and operation of restaurant by Chaudhary in catchment area of Futala lake without approval from land owner Mafsu or sanctions from the civic body on Sunday.
Following Dhote’s demand, Mafsu sent letters to civic chief, collector and commissioner of police confirming it owns the land, that Kamlesh and Meena have encroached on its property, and also urging them to demolish the restaurant.
Following Dhote’s complaint and Mafsu’s letter, assistant commissioner of NMC Dharampeth Zone Prakash Warade on Tuesday issued notice under section 53(1) of the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act and said the restaurant, compound wall and tin shed were constructed without any permission.
“NMC will demolish the structures if you fail to comply with the notice in given time period. Criminal offence will also be registered against you in case of non-compliance of notice,” Warade wrote to Mafsu VC and Chaudhary.
Dhote has demanded the police department should register an offence against Kamlesh and Meena as requested by Mafsu VC in its letter a day ago. “Unfortunately, public representatives and government agencies turn blind eye to encroachment and misuse of Mafsu land, that too in water body’s catchment area for last many years.
I raised a voice against these violations as a responsible citizen and will continue to do so till all illegal structures are demolished and activities stopped. This action will send a clear message to all land mafias who are eyeing government land,” she said.
Through advocate Ankita Shah, Dhote also sent a notice to MSEDCL demanding disconnection of power supply to illegal lawn and restaurant. Dhote also asked MSEDCL to inquire how commercial power supply connection was given to Chaudhary despite the land being owned by Mafsu, and the structures and usage being illegal.
She also served another notice to NMC demanding to know from where Chaudhary is bringing water and utilizing in lawn and restaurant. “Disconnect the water supply. NMC should register FIR under section 379 of IPC if they find water theft by Chaudhary,” she said.