Latest news with #NagpurMunicipalCorporation
Time of India
8 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
‘Save 188-year-old banyan tree or scrap the building': HC slams NMC
1 2 Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of Bombay high court on Wednesday orally censured the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for insisting on transplanting a 188-year-old banyan tree reportedly obstructing an e-library project at Pachpaoli's Thakkargram locality. In strong remarks, the court asked whether NMC was determined to cut the tree at any cost and warned that it may pass orders halting the construction if alternatives to preserve the tree weren't considered. "If your intent is just to remove the tree for open space, parking, and a canteen, we will be compelled to pass appropriate directives. Either change the plan or don't build the structure," the bench verbally clarified while examining the layout of the project. The court emphasised that the tree stands in a corner, not at the centre of the plot, making design adjustments feasible. The directions came during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by environmentalist Preeti Patel and three others, who objected to the proposed felling or relocation of 1,374 trees for development projects across Nagpur, citing violations of the Tree Protection Act. One of their key objections concerned the banyan tree, which the NMC decided to transplant to the Nagpur University campus. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Say Goodbye to Itchy Scalp? Here's What Some People Are Doing Read More Undo Lawyer Mrunall Chakravarty represented the petitioners, while NMC was represented by advocate Gemini Kasat. The petitioners questioned the viability of that plan. "There is no guarantee the tree will survive if shifted," they argued, suggesting that the civic body was ignoring feasible alternatives. Earlier, the HC directed both the petitioners and NMC to consult with environmental experts to explore alternatives. Following the suggestions from the petitioners' side, NMC submitted its response, stating that 50% of the construction of the proposed three-storey e-library was already completed, and the tree now obstructed further development. Unimpressed, the court reiterated its position, pointing out that infrastructure cannot come at the cost of long-standing ecological assets. It then scheduled the next hearing for Friday granting NMC time to reconsider.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Bhandewadi biomedical waste plant operator gets Rs1.5L penalty notice
Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has issued a show cause notice and proposed a penalty of Rs1.5 lakh on Super Hygienic Disposals Pvt Ltd — the operator of the city's sole Common Biomedical Waste Treatment Facility (CBWTF) at Bhandewadi — after untreated biomedical waste was found lying at the site for over 15 days. The glaring violation was found during a surprise inspection on July 15, 2025, by additional municipal commissioner Vasumana Pant, deputy municipal commissioner (solid waste management) Rajesh Bhagat, and other senior officials. The team found large quantities of non-processed biomedical waste — including blood-soaked items, used syringes, and contaminated plastic — dumped inside the facility. According to the show cause notice issued by Bhagat on Wednesday, the accumulation of untreated waste has compromised the processing capacity of the facility. As per clause 14 of the concession agreement signed on August 12, 2004, the operator is mandated to dispose of biomedical waste within 48 hours of collection, in line with Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) guidelines. "However, during the visit, it was observed that biomedical waste had been lying at the project site for approximately 15 days," states the notice, adding that this amounts to a clear violation of the agreement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Citing clause 39 of the contract, which allows for a daily penalty of Rs10,000 for such violations, the NMC has proposed a total fine of Rs1.5 lakh. The operator has been directed to respond within 24 hours with an explanation and an immediate action plan, failing which will invite further action. Officials also suspect that the operator may have been deliberately stockpiling recyclable plastic components, such as saline bottles, for resale without prior sterilization — another serious breach of biomedical waste handling norms.
Time of India
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
NMC gets Rs315cr boost for infra, civic works
Nagpur: In a major pre-election push, the state govt has released Rs315 crore to Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) for key infrastructure and civic development works. The funds issued through two separate govt resolutions — one for Rs 175 crore and another for Rs 140 crore — were confirmed by senior civic officials. A substantial portion of the funds — over Rs 230 crore — will be allocated to six assembly constituencies in the city, based on proposals submitted by the respective MLAs. These include Krishna Khopde (East Nagpur), Mohan Mate (South Nagpur), Devendra Fadnavis (South-West), Pravin Datke (Central Nagpur), Vikas Thakre (West Nagpur), and Nitin Raut (North Nagpur). The projects will be approved and endorsed by district guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, ensuring political oversight in the planning and disbursal process. Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari on Tuesday held a meeting with departmental heads to fast-track proposals and initiate work under the new allocation. Of the total funds, Rs 70-80 crore will be distributed across all 10 NMC zonal offices for improvement of basic services. The focus will be on priority works such as constructing retaining walls for nullahs and rivers, setting up stormwater drainage networks, laying sewerage lines, and building small bridges. With four of the six constituencies represented by BJP MLAs, officials indicate that these areas may receive the lion's share of the allocation. MLAs have already begun submitting their lists of priority works, which include the construction of WBM roads, cement concrete roads, drain covers, and culverts. Many of these works are expected to be taken up on an urgent basis. The civic elections scheduled later this year could see the BJP gaining an edge due to the latest funding boost. All NMC departments — including public works (PWD), public health engineering (PHE), garden, and sports — have been instructed to submit proposals that can be executed quickly. The civic administration aims to use this funding as a springboard to address longstanding issues and visibly improve city infrastructure ahead of the civic elections. Despite this new allocation, the NMC is still awaiting Rs 411.86 crore projects already sanctioned before the 2024 assembly elections. These funds were approved under the urban development department led by deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde. Officials claim the funds have not been released due to financial strain on the state exchequer caused by populist schemes. The NMC recently submitted a supplementary demand for the pending funds during the monsoon session of the state legislature, but no progress has been made. Fund Allocation Overview INFOBOX-1 Break-up of Rs 315 Crore State Grant to NMC Component--- Amount (in ₹ crore) GR 1 – General Civic Works--- 175 GR 2 – MLA Constituency Development--- 140 Total--- 315 Distribution Across 10 Zones INFOBOX-2 Estimated Distribution of Funds to NMC Zones Each of the 10 zones to receive approximately: Zone--- Estimated Fund (Rs crore) Dharampeth--- 7–8 Laxmi Nagar--- 7–8 Nehru Nagar--- 7–8 Gandhibagh--- 7–8 Hanuman Nagar--- 7–8 Dhantoli--- 7–8 Satranjipura--- 7–8 Ashi Nagar--- 7–8 Mangalwari--- 7–8 Lakadganj--- 7–8 INFOBOX-3 Priority Works List Where the Money Will Go – Priority Civic Projects Retaining walls for nullahs and rivers Stormwater drainage networks Sewerage pipelines WBM & cement concrete roads Small bridges and culverts Garden & sports infrastructure upgrades INFOBOX-4 Six Assembly Constituencies MLA--- Party--- Constituency Devendra Fadnavis ---BJP--- South-West Nagpur Krishna Khopde ---BJP--- East Nagpur Mohan Mate ---BJP--- South Nagpur Pravin Datke ---BJP--- Central Nagpur Vikas Thakre ---Congress--- West Nagpur Nitin Raut ---Congress--- North Nagpur Guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule to approve constituency-level works INFOBOX-5 Pending Fund Details Sanctioned but Not Disbursed Amount Pending: ₹411.86 crore Sanctioned: Before 2024 assembly polls Department: Urban development (Dy CM Eknath Shinde)
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
NMC Resumes Demolition Drive for Ramji Pehalwan Rd Widening After Over a Decade
1 2 Nagpur: After over a decade of delays, the long-pending Ramji Pehalwan road widening project in the Mahal area has finally picked up pace, with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) resuming demolition of properties from Tuesday. Proposed in 2012, the project was repeatedly stalled due to complex land acquisition challenges. The proposed stretch of 1,950 metres, connecting Ram Cooler Square to Durga Mata Mandir Square, is being widened from its current 30 feet to 60 feet (18 metres). The widened road is expected to relieve severe traffic congestion in the densely populated and historically important Mahal area, where narrow lanes have long led to snarls, especially during peak hours. Of the total 124 properties marked for acquisition, NMC earlier managed to demolish 84 properties through sale-purchase agreements. In the subsequent phases, the civic body acquired the remaining private properties under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (LARR) Act. These acquisitions allowed NMC to gain control over major portions of the stretch, though the execution remained sluggish. Besides private holdings, 15 govt-owned properties fall along the proposed widened stretch. Out of these, eight have already been handed over to NMC, while acquisition of the remaining seven is pending. Notably, these govt properties are being transferred to the civic body without any compensation. On Tuesday, armed with heavy police protection, NMC's town planning department, along with its enforcement squad, began a fresh round of demolitions to clear remaining encroachments, razing 22 properties from CP & Berar College Square to Ramaji Pahelwan Square. Approximately 18 properties are still left to be razed. The civic body plans to carry out the demolitions in a phased manner, depending on ground-level resistance and logistical challenges. "The razing will continue in phases and is critical to completing the long-stalled road widening project. Once fully cleared, it will greatly ease traffic movement in the core areas of the city," said a senior official from NMC's Town Planning Department. The overall cost of the project is pegged at Rs 65 crore. Of this, the state govt is bearing 70% — around Rs 45 crore — while the remaining Rs 20 crore is being funded by the civic body. Once completed, the widened Ramji Pehalwan Road will significantly boost vehicular mobility, reduce travel time, and improve accessibility for emergency vehicles. It will also allow for better footpath infrastructure, enhancing pedestrian safety. NMC hopes the renewed demolition drive will finally lead to the completion of this long-overdue infrastructure project.
Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
NMC Gandhibagh zone initiates structural audit of 30 bridges after state directives
1 2 Nagpur: Acting on a state govt directive, the Gandhibagh zone of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has initiated the process of conducting a structural audit of 30 bridges and culverts built over the city's Nag River and various nullahs. Most of these structures, located in Prabhag 18, 19, and 22, are decades old, with many reportedly in urgent need of repair. A senior official from the zone told TOI that the bridges, some of which are narrow slab-type crossings, have not undergone comprehensive assessments for years. "Most were constructed long ago and may not meet current safety standards. We're prioritising locations that witness heavy pedestrian or vehicular traffic," the official said. The initiative comes after the Maharashtra govt's urban development department (UDD) issued a Government Resolution (GR) on June 30, mandating all urban local bodies (ULBs) to carry out structural audits of every bridge and building under their jurisdiction. The move follows a series of incidents across the state, including the tragic Kundmala bridge collapse in Pune and structural failures in Nagpur itself — such as cracks found in Butibori bridge last December and the partial collapse of Panchasheel bridge in 2023. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like American Investor Warren Buffett Recommends: 5 Books For Turning Your Life Around Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Responding to the GR, NMC floated a quotation notice inviting empanelled structural engineers to carry out audits and prepare assessment reports for bridges in Gandhibagh Zone. These include important locations such as Zenda Chowk, Reshimbagh near Navbharat School, Umred Road near Hanuman Mandir, and Siraspeth's Great Nag Road petrol pump. The list also features nullah crossings in congested localities like Gondipura, Chitnis Park, and Nababpura. The sale of quotation forms began on July 24 and will close on July 31, with physical submissions accepted until 5pm the same day. The forms cost Rs590, inclusive of GST, and the quotations will be opened on August 1 at the office of the executive engineer, Zone-6. The GR emphasises the urgency of structural audits, especially in areas with high footfall or ageing infrastructure. It holds ULBs accountable for ensuring the safety of civic structures built with either state or municipal funds. The audits are expected to prevent accidents, enable timely repairs, and ensure public safety in vulnerable areas.
