Nagpur: More than two weeks after Union minister and city MP Nitin Gadkari set a seven-day deadline to clear encroachments, the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has responded with an internal reshuffle instead of visible enforcement, underscoring the widening gap between directives and action on the ground.In an April 10 order, general administration department relieved assistant commissioner Harish Raut of the additional charge of the encroachment department, handing it to superintendent Sanjay Ganesh Kamble. Already part of enforcement wing, Kamble will now handle encroachment control alongside existing duties, without additional pay.The timing has raised eyebrows. Gadkari’s March 29 directive demanded swift clearance of footpaths and public spaces. Yet, encroachments remain entrenched across key stretches, from residential pockets to commercial hubs. The reshuffle sidesteps a core issue repeatedly flagged within the civic body: the absence of a full-time officer dedicated to tackling encroachments.NMC insiders admit the dual-charge system has failed. Raut, who was also overseeing the Satranjipura zone, struggled to sustain action. The latest move merely transfers that burden without strengthening manpower or accountability. “Encroachment is not a part-time problem. Without a dedicated officer and team, drives will remain cosmetic,” said a senior official.Residents, however, say the ground reality has not changed. “Footpaths exist only on paper. We are forced to walk on roads every day,” said Anil Sharma, a resident of Dharampeth. “Drives happen for a day or two, then everything comes back,” added a shopkeeper from Sitabuldi Main Road, requesting anonymity.TOI has consistently reported how organised encroachment networks operate across city, with public spaces allegedly monetised and enforcement reduced to sporadic drives. Officials concede political interference continues to derail action. “Moment teams move in, calls start coming from local leaders. It becomes difficult to sustain action,” said another officer on condition of anonymity.“For pedestrians, the consequences are immediate: unsafe roads, shrinking walkways, and constant risk of accidents,” said Mihir Pal, a senior citizen. For the administration, the failure to meet even high-level deadlines highlights structural gaps.
