The encroachements on the land alloted to prestigious project to promote sports in Vidarbha, Sports Authority of India (SAI), got an axe from the administration as Bidgaon Nagar Panchayat and Nagpur Municipal Corporation administration started anti-encroachment drive on Friday. The two authorities, through joint action, removed the 18 tin sheds erected illegally on the land transferred to SAI in Mouja-Tarodi (Khurd). Last week, ‘The Hitavada’ had highlighted the issue and brought to the fore civic authorities’ neglect towards the 10-year-old project. A total of 18 unauthorised tin sheds in Khasra No. 53, 54 and 60 were removed under police protection. This encroachment eradication operation began at 8.30 am.

 

Action was taken on 1 tin shed in Khasra No. 53, while there were a total of 8 tin sheds in Khasra No. 54. Out of these, action was taken on 5 constructions, while the court stayed the action on the remaining 3 constructions. Also, in Khasra No. 60, all 12 unauthorised constructions were completely removed by evening. During this operation, ATP from the Tarodi Administrator and Planning Authority Office, Nagar Panchayat Bidgaon-Tarodi (Khurd) along with the Assistant Commissioner of Nehrunagar Zone, Deputy Engineer, all junior engineers and employees were the part of the team who took action.

 

Ten years ago, an agreement was signed between the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) and the Sports Authority of India (SAI) to develop a 140-plus acres Regional Centre of Sports Excellence in the Wathoda area. Shockingly, ten years later, the project remained on paper except the erection of a single boundary wall. In April 2018, NMC approved the proposal of land to be given to SAI on 30-year lease at Rs 1 after an agreement was signed with Director, SAI, in April 2016. The State gave its nod on July 2017. The project was initially launched 10 years ago in 2015-16. The project was to be developed as a National-level training centre. Unfortunately, after a gap of 10 years, the only physical structure erected on the site is a boundary wall. There are no athletic tracks, no hostels and no training halls. It took no time before unauthorised constructions came up. NMC started its attempts to clear the land for a compound wall in 2023, but residents claiming ownership came forward opposing the action. With NMC and Nagar Panchayat swung into joint action demolishing the unauthorised structures, people of city feel that the prestigious association like SAI would soon starts functioning in Nagpur.