Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court has set a deadline of November 13 for the submission of detailed affidavits concerning the restoration of Kasturchand Park ( KP Ground )and the Grade-1 heritage monument located there. The order applies to key officials, including the Nagpur District Collector, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the Chief Engineer of the Public Works Department (PWD), and the Heritage Conservation Committee.
The directive came in response to concerns raised by amicus curiae SP Bhandarkar, highlighting the park’s deteriorating condition, including overgrown vegetation and crumbling structures. The bench, comprising Justice Nitin Sambre and Justice Vrushali Joshi, referred to an earlier order from October 2021, which revealed that the historic park had been used for commercial events at a minimal rent, leading to significant profits for organizers. The court had ordered the district collector to address possible lease violations and consider income-sharing measures between event organizers and the government.
Another prior order from September 2020 highlighted discrepancies between affidavits submitted by authorities and the park’s actual state, which was found to be filthy, uneven, and marked by the deteriorating condition of its heritage structures. The court reiterated its directive for the district collector and NMC to audit the site and submit a concrete restoration plan.
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