Nagpur: The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court has established a Joint Inspection Committee (JIC) to monitor and assess the actions of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the City Police in addressing civic issues in Dhantoli. This move comes in response to ongoing concerns about haphazard parking, illegal vendors, and other public grievances in the area.
The committee, aimed at improving the quality of life for Dhantoli residents, will be chaired by Devendra Pradhan, 61, the Secretary of Dhantoli Nagrik Mandal. Architect Paramjeet Singh Ahuja will also serve as a member, alongside representatives from both the NMC and the City Police.
Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Abhay Mantri, who presided over the matter, have directed the NMC and the City Police to nominate suitable members for the committee and define their respective roles. The JIC is set to hold its inaugural meeting on August 26, where it will finalize its agenda and operational framework. The court has also mandated that the minutes of each meeting be formally recorded and submitted.
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Saturday18 Jan. 2025
Increased Pressure with New Hospitals
The court session also revealed that Dhantoli is set to see the addition of eight new hospitals, further intensifying the strain on an already overburdened residential area. With numerous hospitals already operational, the influx of new facilities is expected to exacerbate parking and traffic challenges for local residents.
Court Expresses Frustration Over NMC’s Efforts
During the hearing on Wednesday, Advocate Ashwin Deshpande voiced concerns about the NMC’s inefficacy in resolving the area’s ongoing issues. Despite the NMC’s affidavit claiming actions were being taken, Deshpande highlighted that problems persist, with hawkers returning to the same areas shortly after NMC operations conclude. He also reported that hospital parking spaces are frequently occupied by hawkers, leading to significant traffic disruptions.
The court expressed its frustration with what it perceived as the NMC’s lack of effective action. Justice Sambre orally instructed the NMC’s counsel to file an affidavit from the Municipal Commissioner addressing the violations of building plans. The court also demanded the identification of officials responsible for oversight and a clear outline of the actions to be taken against those failing to address these issues.
This is not the first time these concerns have been brought before the court. In a hearing in June, the court was alarmed by the extent of hospital encroachments on parking spaces in Dhantoli, with violations spanning between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet. Despite claims from the NMC that these encroachments were addressed in 2015, the court expressed concern that the structures might have been rebuilt or that new issues had emerged.
Additional complaints were also raised about some doctors locking parking spaces, making them inaccessible to patients and hospital staff.
