Finally, PDKV ‘Land Grab’ Under Lens After 10 Years

Nagpur: Nearly a decade after Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) first cracked down on alleged encroachments on Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) land in Kachipura and Lendra, the civic body has revived proceedings against 60 commercial establishments accused of illegally occupying prime university land and constructing restaurants, lawns and banquets on land originally reserved for institutional agricultural purpose.The Dharampeth zone of NMC has now begun fresh proceedings after difficulties in identifying actual land occupiers during recent inspections, officials said.Official documents accessed by TOI show the first notices were issued in July 2015 under Sections 53 and 55 of Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966. Section 53 pertains to unauthorised permanent constructions, while Section 55 deals with temporary or tin-shed encroachments.The notices were issued after NMC found large-scale commercial development carried out without planning permission on land belonging to PDKV's agricultural college at Kachipura and Lendra, straddling Khasra Nos. 104 to 209.However, enforcement stalled after several occupants approached the state govt and courts. In Jan 2016, the urban development department issued a communication directing NMC to stay action initiated through notices dated Jan 6, 2016, until further govt orders, following appeals submitted by some occupiers before the minister of state under Section 47 of MRTP Act."Now, after fresh directions linked to Supreme Court orders of Oct 24, 2019, and Dec 17, 2024, the civic administration has again started the verification process," officials privy to the development said.A fresh notice issued on April 10, 2026, by Dharampeth Zone directed alleged occupiers and PDKV authorities to appear for a hearing on April 22 with supporting documents and ownership records. Sources said the hearing, however, was disrupted due to Nagpur Municipal Corporation's general body meeting held the same day, delaying proceedings further.Senior officials said one of the biggest hurdles now is tracing the real beneficiaries and occupiers of encroached properties. "During spot inspections, officers are finding that many alleged occupants are no longer operating the establishments there. Several properties have reportedly been rented out, sub-leased or transferred informally over the years, making it difficult to identify actual encroachers," an official said.The Kachipura-Central Bazaar Road belt has transformed over the past decade into one of the city's busiest commercial food and banquet hubs, with restaurants, lawns, bars, cafes and assembly occupancies operating from the disputed land parcels. Officials said many establishments are simultaneously facing fire safety violations and proceedings under Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act.