The Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) board of trustees has decided to hand over 65 regularized layouts to the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) to provide basic amenities to the citizens living in the area. The NIT has also decided to transfer open spaces in these layouts to the civic body. However, the NMC will be keeping the public utility lands in these layouts with itself, which may create friction between the two planning authorities going forward.
The NIT regularizes unauthorized layouts under Gunthewari Act. According to sources, the NMC has always blamed the NIT for not developing proper infrastructure in regularized layouts despite recovering regularization charges from plot owners. Citing this, the NMC refuses to take over the layouts from the NIT where either infrastructure is not in place or not developed in a proper manner.
As a result, citizens residing in regularized layouts have been suffering for no fault of theirs. To resolve this issue, the NIT board has decided to conduct an inquiry into the works executed for Manewada e-library.
Further, the board has passed a resolution to develop a commercial complex, sports complex, hall, and museum at the sprawling land adjacent to Sakkardara lake. Additionally, the board has approved the construction of a swimming pool at a cost of ₹3.76 crore at Ambedkar Sports Complex in Ahuja Nagar.
The decision to transfer layouts to NMC is a welcoming decision for the residents of the area who have been deprived of basic amenities for years. On the other hand, the decision to keep public utility lands with NMC may create friction between the two planning authorities in the future, which can negatively impact the residents.
The NIT needs to ensure that proper infrastructure is developed in all the layouts, and the NMC needs to take over the layouts promptly. The two planning authorities should work in conjunction with each other to provide proper facilities to the citizens. It is important to balance administrative responsibilities with the welfare of the residents.
In conclusion, the transfer of 65 regularized layouts to NMC is a positive development, but adequate infrastructure needs to be developed, and public utility lands should be handed over to the NMC to ensure seamless services to the citizens living in the area.
