Nagpur: Once an entertainment hub, Bharat Talkies stood tall between the road from LIC Square to Mount Hotel Square. However, the nearby residents were left enraged when a builder extensively damaged the NMC’s ‘Trunk Line’ passing through beneath the Bharat Talkies. Alerted over the damaging work, Mangalwari Zone authorities directed the builder to stop work and restore the damaged Trunk Line immediately. However, as the builder snubbed the directive with disdain and continued his work, the matter reached NMC headquarters and Sadar Police Station.
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Sat 21 Dec. 2024
It may be recalled that the builder Kishore Rai has been grabbing headlines since the past 10-15 years for one dubious act or another. The housing complexes the builder constructed turned out to be of poor quality, cheap but at vantage places. Currently, the builder is constructing a multi-storey commercial complex by demolishing Bharat Talkies. As the information of start of construction reached the local Corporator Mamata Sahare, she immediately sent the Sanitary Inspector Bhushan Gajbhiye of Mangalwari Zone to carry out spot inspection. Subsequently, Gajbhiye went to the construction site and informed the builder that a ‘Trunk Line’ of British era passes 40 feet beneath the site and the line is connected to a Central Nagpur-based nallah passing through Sadar, Tent Line, Gaddigodam, Khalasi Line, Mohan Nagar and other localities. The builder was told to start construction work only after laying down a new line in place of main line. However, the arrogant builder told Gajbhiye to ‘mind his own business.’ ‘I will deal with Bangar.’ (Municipal Commissioner).
Soon after Gajbhiye’s return, the said builder started digging work at the basement for two-storied parking slot. Even as the digging had reached around 20 feet, the JCB machine damaged the Trunk Line extensively. The moment the ‘Trunk Line’ blasted, the dug up hole was filled up with filthy water. The information of the ‘dirty act’ reached Prabhag Corporators Burrewar and Mamata Sahare and also to former Mayor Rajesh Tambe. The trio rushed to the spot in a huff as also the Managlwari Zone Deputy Engineer, Zonal Health Officer and Sanitary Inspector Gajbhiye as well. This time, Gajbhiye issued a written order to the builder to stop work and lay a new line.
On the other hand, the builder deployed three pumps and released the filthy water into a drain near Mount Hotel Square. The work of releasing the water was going on so that the construction work could go on.
Offended by the builder’s ‘care a hoot’ attitude, Sahare and Tambe reached Sadar Police Station to lodge a complaint in this connection. However, instead of registering a case, the Sadar cops told Sahare and Tambe that authority to lodge complaint lies with Zonal Health Officer. Disgusted, both Sahare and Tambemet the Additional Municipal Commissioner Ravindra Thakre and apprised him about the matter. Thakre discussed the matter with Ward Officer Harish Raut and asked him to initiate necessary action. However, Raut pleaded that no action could be taken during notice period. Later, Sahare and Tambe shot a letter to NMC’s Town Planning Department and sought its reply as how the building plan presented by Rai Group was sanctioned over the 70-year old British era ‘Trunk Line.’ Had the Department inspected documents submitted by the builder before sanctioning of the map? Sahare and Tambe asked and sought all the concerned documents within three days.
Double standards:
Recently, one applicant in Town Planning Department and one in Estate Department had demanded NMC’s land on lease. The Estate Department sought suggestion of Town Planning Department. The Department informed the Estate Department that since a drain/sewer line of NMC is passing through the said land, no permission could be given for construction work. For this reason, the application was rejected. On the other hand, the same Town Planning Department permitted construction work at Bharat Talkies where the ‘Trunk Line’ passes beneath the ground. Is this not illegal? Is legal action should not be initiated against the concerned authority?
Reaching the Dargah an arduous task:
A Dargah is situated in Bharat Talkies premises. Religious rites are performed at this Dargah since years. The annual Urs is also held there. But due to the ongoing construction work, reaching to the Dargah ia an arduous task. But still, some devotees visiting the Dargah with a risk. Since the past one week, accumulated stinking water is making the lives of Dargah visitors miserable.
