17 deaths 7 yrs ago, UDD & NIT keep action in cold storage

  • | Monday | 18th February, 2019

The cold storage building collapsed on January 30, 2012 in which 17 labourers had died. “It is unfortunate that the UDD continued the stay for six years despite 17 people losing their life. The NIT, in its reply dated May 24, 2013, urged the UDD to not to entertain the appeals. Following complaints from Shah and other activists, the NIT had written a letter to UDD on August 27, 2015 asking about the status of the stay. PNB had went into an appeal with the UDD as it had disbursed a loan of Rs1.95 crore for construction of the cold storage.Since then, the NIT did not receive any communication from the UDD.

Nagpur: Despite loss of 17 lives over six years ago in a cold storage collapse, the Nagpur Improvement Trust ( NIT ) is unable to cancel the lease of the land to take back its possession as the state’s urban development department ( UDD ) has stayed the action, for reasons best known to it.The NIT had leased out 1,208.56 sq.mt land to Pratibha Pramod Khandelwal, who later built a G+5 floor cold storage there. The cold storage building collapsed on January 30, 2012 in which 17 labourers had died. A large number of businessmen had also incurred huge losses due to destruction of the goods stored there.The NIT had conducted an inquiry and detected brazen violations by the owner. The civic agency had also roped in Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) for structural and geotechnical investigation. VNIT in its report had bared low quality construction as well as other types of flaws in raising the structure.Following this, activists, including Kamlesh Shah, had lodged a series of complaints with the NIT demanding action against Khandelwal. In meetings held on January 19 and February 2, 2013, the NIT board of trustees took a decision to cancel the lease of the land.Khandelwal and Punjab National Bank (PNB), the loaner, appealed against the NIT’s decision with the UDD that stayed action on May 7, 2013. The NIT, in its reply dated May 24, 2013, urged the UDD to not to entertain the appeals. PNB had went into an appeal with the UDD as it had disbursed a loan of Rs1.95 crore for construction of the cold storage.Since then, the NIT did not receive any communication from the UDD. Following complaints from Shah and other activists, the NIT had written a letter to UDD on August 27, 2015 asking about the status of the stay. However, nothing happened in the case further.The officials of UDD and NIT are passing the blame on each other for the status quo in the case.An NIT official told TOI that the UDD has continued the stay and hence the civic agency can do nothing. “Process to take possession of the land will be initiated after UDD vacates the stay,” he added.On the other hand, a senior official from the UDD said that the NIT should have pursued the case. “I will look into the case and ensure the stay is vacated soon,” the official said.City Congress president Vikas Thakre claimed it was a method used by the state government to protect unauthorized constructions and violators. “It is unfortunate that the UDD continued the stay for six years despite 17 people losing their life. The UDD has acted in similar fashion in many cases. One such example is the stay given on NMC’s action against illegal commercial establishments on agricultural land owned by PDKV,” he said.Former mayor and BJP corporator Pravin Datke said need is for the NMC to frame a policy to prevent recurrence of such cases. “Mumbai, Thane and Nashik municipal corporations have powers to hear such cases and decide. Cases of these urban local bodies do not go to the UDD. I have started the process at the NMC and will ensure its completion soon,” he added.

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