Committee objects to NMC advertisement, seeks wider Samvidhan Chowk in Nagpur
A Nagpur committee has demanded that the civic body's 24 September advertisement be withdrawn and that Samvidhan Chowk and the Ambedkar statue area be expanded under one master plan.
A demand has been raised to enlarge and modernise Nagpur's historic Samvidhan Chowk and the Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar statue premises. An appeal has been made to the state government to take up the matter immediately.
The Samvidhan Chowk Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue Premises Expansion Committee wants an integrated development plan drawn up for the entire area from Samvidhan Chowk to Zero Mile, and the area developed accordingly. The committee's chief convener, Tayde, has sent a memorandum to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Secretary and the Governor. In it, he has demanded that the government take a quick and positive decision on the matter.
The committee has strongly objected to an advertisement by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, published in a newspaper on 24 September. The committee says it could adversely affect future development and the use of public land. It has demanded that the advertisement be withdrawn and cancelled immediately. The committee has warned that both the development plan and public interest could be seriously affected.
The committee alleges that an attempt is being made to limit the space available for the expansion. According to it, the people of Nagpur are asking for Samvidhan Chowk to be expanded, while on the other hand a process is under way to restrict and affect the existing space of the Samvidhan Chowk premises by putting forward the issue of expanding the Vidhan Bhavan.
The committee has made it clear that it is not against the expansion of the Vidhan Bhavan. It says no development work should reduce the space available for democratic movements and for citizens.
The committee's main demands are as follows. First, a detailed and integrated master plan for the area from Samvidhan Chowk to Zero Mile should be placed before the public. Second, the government should acquire, through legal process, all the land that falls in the way of the expansion.
The third demand concerns facilities at the site. The committee wants wide footpaths, seating, toilets, drinking water, facilities for the disabled and vehicle parking there, and ample space to be kept for peaceful protests. Finally, the committee has demanded that a separate, independent fund be provided to develop Samvidhan Chowk as a "National Constitution Inspiration Site".
