Nagpur: Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) has fenced off a site in Bajaj Nagar with tin sheets to prevent its alleged misuse by hotel operators, telling Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court that the arrangement would ensure the premises could not be used even temporarily.The submission came on Friday during the hearing of a PIL by three Shankar Nagar residents — Lalit Harode, Aseem Baodia and Mrudula Phadke, who have raised concerns over alleged irregularities and blatant violations at restaurants in the stretch between Bajaj Nagar and Shankar Nagar. A division bench comprising Justices Urmila Joshi-Phalke and Raj Wakode then adjourned the hearing till Sept 7.Earlier, the petitioners’ counsel questioned why permanent action had not been taken against the alleged unauthorised construction over a drain passing through various illegal eateries inside Kachipura area. They also suggested that, pending permanent action, the civic body could at least erect temporary fencing to prevent the site from being misused.Following the court’s directions, NMC submitted a report detailing the action taken. It said the entire disputed area had been enclosed with tin fencing and measures had been taken to ensure that it could not be easily removed. Photographs of the fencing were also placed before the court.The development follows the court’s earlier displeasure over the civic body’s action concerning alleged liquor parties being held in the area.NMC also informed the court that it had written to MSEDCL seeking relocation of dangerous live electricity wires in the vicinity. Since permission from the superintendent engineer was required, the civic body said it had sent a letter to the officer on Sept 3.The PIL alleges that activities continuing late into the night at the Kachipura establishments have been causing inconvenience to residents and creating potential law-and-order concerns. Taking note of the allegations, the court directed Bajaj Nagar police to inform it about the action taken so far against such late-night parties.
