Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) anti-encroachment drive in Mangalwari zone has triggered a storm after officials allegedly dumped goods seized from street vendors into a nearby nullah during Wednesday’s operation.While such drives are routine, the handling of confiscated material has come under scrutiny, raising questions over procedure and accountability.Congress corporator Shailesh Pandey accused officials of “high-handedness and extortion-like behaviour” under the guise of enforcement. The drive was carried out near the State CID office and the Police Line–Takli Talab stretch.He alleged that vegetables and other seized items were thrown into the Gorewada nullah, which, though dry at present, channels rainwater into the Pili river.“What kind of enforcement is this? On one hand, NMC spends lakhs of rupees to clean these drains, and on the other, its own officials are dumping waste into them,” Pandey said, calling out what he termed blatant double standards.The charge gains significance as the civic body recently cracked down on dumping in nullahs, prescribing penalties from Rs25,000 to Rs1 lakh for violations — a rule now seen as selectively enforced.Residents and civic activists echoed the outrage. “If citizens did this, they would be fined immediately. Who will act against the officials now?” a local resident asked.Deputy commissioner (enforcement) Mangesh Khawale denied the allegations, maintaining that the confiscated materials were stored in the Gorewada area for a month.
