'Remove encroachments at commercial complexes'

NAGPUR: With the Nagpur Municipal Corporation's ongoing anti-encroachment drive getting stricter with each passing day, residents of four flat schemes on the stretch between Law College Square and Ravi Nagar Square on Amravati Road have written to municipal commissioner Sanjeev Jaiswal and demanded action against builders who blatantly violated sanctioned plans.
In their complaint, residents pointed out that on the stretch in question, most buildings are commercial and each one has encroached the parking and common area in connivance with NMC and NIT officials.
According to the complaint letter, Jagat Tower has the most victims as 50% of the parking space is encroached upon by shop owners and eating joints which keep tables and chairs. Besides, many shops too have allegedly extended their space limit.
The builder too has allegedly sold the residential exit space to a restaurant owner who has set up a kitchen, put up hoardings and made seating arrangements for diners.
As a result, residents are forced to take their four-wheelers out of the parking area as it is encroached upon by shopkeepers. The floor space index (FSI) norms have been grossly violated, the letter claimed.
The situation is similar at the adjoining flat scheme Himalay Accord which has eight shops and 17 flats. Over here, 35% of the parking space is encroached upon by shop owners including an eating joint.
A resident pointed out that shops in the building were violating many norms. "We have lodged many complaints with the NMC's town planning and ant-encroachment departments but no action has been taken."
At Himalay Crown, the situation is no different. The structure has big showrooms on the ground floor but the parking space for visitors is very less. Over here, the builder, in connivance with the town planning department and Dharampeth zone officials, allegedly converted the basement meant for parking into flats and shops.
Meanwhile, around 28 residents of Saptashrungi Vihar near Sonegaon Lake have once again approached the civic chief demanding action against the developer of their layout who allegedly constructed bungalows on public utility (PU) land.
Of the 858.42 sq metres of public utility land, the builder allegedly handed over only 722.509 sq metres. Recently, residents of this housing society also approached the high court against the misuse of PU land.
While assuring to look into the complaints, civic chief Jaiswal has urged residents to bring encroachments on roads, footpaths and PU land to the notice of NMC officials.