Bear demolition cost at Poonam Chambers: HC to N Kumar

Nagpur: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court on Monday directed petitioner N Kumar to bear the cost of demolishing unauthorised constructions at Poonam Chambers, ordering that the amount be deposited with the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) within two weeks after submission of the estimate.The directive came during the hearing of a petition filed by N Kumar concerning alleged illegal constructions at Poonam Chambers and Poonam Towers. The matter was heard by a division bench comprising Justices Anil Pansare and Nivedita Mehta, who adjourned the hearing till March 30.The court was informed that NMC has begun demolition in compliance with earlier court orders. The bench directed NMC officials to complete the demolition and provide a copy of detailed estimate of the expenditure incurred to the court and the petitioner.Earlier, chartered accountant Abhiruchi Agrawal, appearing for the petitioner, submitted a progress report on the demolition work. The court took the report on record. According to the report, unauthorised structures in the parking area of the building complex were removed.NMC counsel JB Kasat told the court that about 80% of the demolition in the parking area was completed, and the remaining work would be finished soon. Kasat also informed the bench that the demolition work was earlier halted on March 5. The judges' bench observed that the petitioner earlier gave a written undertaking before the court to remove the illegal constructions but failed to comply with that assurance. They said the issue of non-compliance would be considered at a later stage.