Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Heritage Conservation Committee to fix the time-line to protect and conserve historical Kasturchand Park along with its pavilions and Zero Mile precinct. The Heritage Conservation Committee placed on record its plan for restoration of the Kasturchand Park and Zero Mile and also finalised a seven member dedicated team to look after both the heritage sites s per heritage regulations.

 

The team includes four members from the Heritage Conservation Committee including Deputy Commissioner, NMC, Ashok Mokha; Architect and Urban Designer, P S Patankar, Structural Engineer, Dr. Ujjwala Shirish Chakradev, Principal, LAD College of Architecture. Besides Assistant Director Archeology Department, Nagpur Division, Sub-Divisional Engineer, Public Works Sub-Division No. 3, and Deputy Collector (Nazul) have been named as members of the task force. Since the team includes representatives of Heritage Conservation Committee, Public Works Department, Department of Archaeological Survey and the Collectorate, the co-ordination will be a little easy and smooth. A division bench consisting of Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Anil Kilor while hearing suo-motu PIL based on ‘The Hitavada’ news-report directed Task Force to look after and focus on the work of restoration and maintenance of the Zero Mile, Kasturchand Park and its Precincts within a defined time frame.

 

The panel is expected to meet on Tuesday and the report about the time-line has been sought within the next two days. The High Court also made it clear that the suo-motu PIL was initiated primarily in respect of Heritage Structure at Kasturchand Park and its Precincts and Zero Mile. During the hearing issues regarding other open grounds such as Reshimbagh were also considered by the Court following intervention applications. It is not possible to deal with all the open grounds in the city as it will dilute the focus on the purpose for which Suo Motu PIL was initiated, the High Court made it clear while restricting the scope of the PIL to both Grade-I heritage structure and precincts.

 

For misuse of any of the open grounds for non-sporting activities or commercial use, the HC made it clear that it would deal with the issue as and when any public spirited person approach Court with a grievance. Adv Shreerang Bhandarkar (Amicus Curiae-KP Ground PIL), Adv Kartik Shukul (Amicus Curiae-Zero Mile PIL), Addl GP Dipak Thakre (State), ASGI Ulhas Aurangabadkar (Union), Adv J B Kasat (NMC), Adv Girish Kunte (NIT), Senior Advocate S K Mishra and Adv Sachin Agrawal (Metro Rail) appeared in the matter.