Serious concerns are being raised over the functioning of Government agencies after several commercial establishments allegedly operating on encroached land belonging to Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) in Nagpur continue to receive uninterrupted electricity and water supply despite long-standing disputes over illegal occupation.
The issue has sparked anger among residents of Bajaj Nagar and East Shankar Nagar, who have accused authorities of ignoring blatant encroachments while allowing restaurants and other commercial establishments to function freely for years on disputed land.
Residents have now questioned the role of Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), asking how such establishments managed to obtain and retain essential civic services despite repeated concerns over the legal status of the land.
“Large portions of PDKV land are officially marked as encroached. Then how are commercial establishments still enjoying electricity and water supply without interruption?” residents questioned.
The controversy has exposed apparent loopholes in the verification and enforcement mechanisms of civic agencies.
Under existing rules, obtaining a new electricity connection requires documentary proof of legal ownership or authorised occupancy, including occupancy certificates, land records such as Form 7/12 extracts, property tax receipts or registered lease agreements. Even in slum areas, authorities generally require affidavits or supporting declarations where formal ownership documents are unavailable.
Despite these requirements, residents allege that several establishments on disputed PDKV land have continued commercial operations without any visible enforcement action.
A senior MSEDCL official admitted that old records would need to be examined to determine the basis on which the electricity connections were originally granted.
“These are legacy connections. We will have to examine what documents were submitted at that time,” the official said.
However, the explanation has failed to convince residents, who argue that authorities cannot avoid accountability by citing old records while alleged illegal occupation continues openly.
Questions are also being raised over the handling of water supply connections by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation.
A senior NMC official stated that no fresh water connections or approvals had been issued after 2009 following communication received from PDKV regarding the disputed land. Residents, however, argued that stopping new approvals alone does not absolve authorities of responsibility.
“If the land was officially identified as encroached years ago, why were existing commercial connections not disconnected? Why were illegal establishments allowed to flourish using Government resources?” residents asked.
The controversy has once again highlighted allegations of administrative negligence, weak enforcement and selective action in cases involving valuable urban land encroachments.
Citizens and local activists are now demanding a detailed investigation into how commercial establishments continued receiving civic amenities for years despite serious questions over legality, and whether officials ignored violations deliberately or due to administrative apathy.
The issue is also expected to intensify pressure on civic and power authorities to clarify whether public resources were knowingly supplied to allegedly unauthorised constructions operating on disputed Government land.
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