Hoardings, infra gap: NMC House set for stormy question hour today

Nagpur: The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) general body meeting scheduled for Wednesday at Kavivarya Suresh Bhat Auditorium, is set for a stormy question hour, with corporators lining up a barrage of queries that cut across governance lapses, enforcement failures and welfare concerns.From illegal hoardings and encroachments to compensation for civic workers and gaps in infrastructure, the agenda reflects mounting pressure on the administration ahead of key policy decisions.A pending question from the March 20 meeting is expected to reopen the contentious issue of illegal hoardings, with corporator Vijay Zalke seeking clarity on the civic body's policy as well as the total number of commercial hoarding permissions granted. The issue has repeatedly surfaced in the wake of safety risks and allegations of selective enforcement. Reinforcing the concern, leader of opposition Sanjay Mahakalkar has asked whether FIRs are being registered against unauthorised hoardings, banners and posters, highlighting the persistent gap between regulations and on-ground action.Encroachments in the form of unauthorised weekly markets are also set to trigger debate. Lawyer Sanjaykumar Balpande has flagged the proliferation of such markets in high-density commercial areas like Itwari, Gandhibagh and Ganjipeth. His query seeks accountability on which department is responsible for action and demands data on fines collected over the past year — an issue that has drawn repeated complaints from traders and residents alike.Human cost and compensation-related issues are likely to add an emotional edge to the proceedings. Pradip Pohane has raised the case of Seema Charade, who died in an incident involving a garbage vehicle, demanding clarity on compensation provided to her family. He has also questioned whether families of NMC sanitation workers who died during the Covid-19 pandemic have received promised financial aid or employment support.Fire safety infrastructure will also come under scrutiny. Wasim Khan has questioned delays in the reconstruction of the Ganjipeth Fire Station, its temporary relocation arrangements and the availability of critical equipment such as hydraulic pumps for fire tenders. Worker welfare is another key focus area, with Lakhan Yerwar proposing Rs 5 lakh health insurance coverage along with biannual health check-ups for sanitation workers and their families — a move that could see rare consensus across party lines.Civic infrastructure and environmental management issues remain central. NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) corporator Abha Pande has sought detailed information on the number of rivers and nullahs in the city, expenditure incurred on their cleaning since 2022, and whether the NMC is overly dependent on rented machinery instead of building its own capacity. AIMIM group leader Shakil Patel has demanded ward-wise details of cement road projects, particularly near Tajabad Dargah, including the status of completed and pending works. Jitendra Kukde has sought clarity on the status of 28.48 acre in Wathoda transferred to the Sports Authority of India Ltd.With questions spanning enforcement failures, financial accountability and civic neglect, Wednesday's session is expected to place the NMC administration under intense scrutiny, setting the tone for a politically charged House.