Ready to hit streets if Govt revives NIT: BJP
24 Jan 2020 10:57:07
Pravin Datke Dr Nitin Raut
Staff Reporter :
Dr Nitin Raut had sought restoration of NIT as development authority for balanced development of the Orange City
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) warned of a showdown if Maharashtra Government makes any move to revive Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT). “We are ready to take to streets if any unilateral decision is taken by State Government regarding the fate of NIT,” said Pravin Datke, President, BJP, Nagpur city unit, on Thursday. Addressing mediapersons, Datke referred to the communication from Urban Development Department (UDD) to NMC and NIT seeking their opinion on a demand to restore NIT as the planning authority. The move follows instructions from Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray following demand made by Guardian Minister Dr Nitin Raut seeking restoration of NIT as development authority for ensuring balanced development in city.
Datke said, “From the tenor of the letter it seems State Government has already taken a decision and sought report from NIT and NMC which is mere a formality. However, the stance of BJP is clear, NIT stands dissolved and a notification about the same was also published in Government Gazette. So it makes no sense to again have two development authorities for the city and NMC is capable enough to ensure all-round development in the second capital of State.” Criticising Dr Raut’s move, Datke said, “One does not know what Guardian Minister wants to achieve by having two planning bodies in the city when previous experience of citizens was pretty bad. NIT’s dissolution has ensured unified approach to development process in Nagpur city and same is working very well.”
“NIT ruined development of outer areas of city and failed in fulfill aspirations of people,” claimed Datke. The then Government headed by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had dissolved NIT during last year fulfilling long standing demand for a single planning authority for city. Datke also said, “People were fed up of inaction on part of NIT in development of Gunthewari layouts and Fadnavis-led previous State Government rightly took the call and transferred its schemes to NMC.
There were also spate of complaints about under hand dealings in NIT and people were harassed a lot owing to delay in decision making. Thus, State Government last year finally dissolved NIT and its role was redefined as planning body for Metropolitan Region.” Meanwhile, with change of guard in State capital that saw Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) coming to power, Dr Raut wrote a letter to Chief Minister on January 2, 2020, batting for restoring NIT as planning authority citing incomplete works in city and fulfilling development of city.
In the lengthy letter, the Minister gave several instances to justify revival of NIT, including no works with the employees of Trust owing to transfer of its schemes to NMC. NIT was also credited with all-round development of city and making roads wide city and the Minister underlined the work specific areas of NMC, that of looking after distribution of drinking water supply, effective management to civic services. Datke has urged Guardian Minister to withdraw the letter demanding restoration of NIT in larger interest of the city and Nagpurians.
However, as Congress leaders in city start flexing their muscles, the stage is set for a showdown in near future. Back in power, local Congressmen are increasing realising the need to have a grip on city affairs and for it they are keen on restoring NIT. BJP, however, has three fourth majority in NMC and Congress Party is in dumps in civic body and founds itself in corner and hence the move to ride on back of NIT and assert its authority in development plan. Deputy Mayor Manish Kothe, Sandeep Jadhav, Ruling Party Leader in NMC, also were present at the press conference.
If needed, will hold special meet of NMC general body: Mayor Pravin Datke informed the mediapersons that Mayor has already written a letter to Municipal Commissioner asking him to seek opinion of the House in Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) before submitting any report to State Government about NIT.
Mayor Sandip Joshi wrote a letter on Thursday itself to ensure that no unilateral report is sent by Municipal Commissioner to Urban Development Department (UDD). Joshi, who also was present at the press conference, said, “If needed, they would convey a special meeting of general body of NMC and seek opinion of corporators to discuss the demand for revival of NIT. We know the intention of State Government, but our stance is clear, there should be only one planning body for Nagpur city and NMC is well suited to meet aspirations of Nagpurians.”