‘Last’ encroachment on RTMNU land removed
22 Dec 2022 06:09:24
Staff Reporter
Finally, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) can heave a sigh of relief as ‘last’ encroachment on its land was removed, the other day. District Collector Dr Vipin Itankar took the initiative in this regard. The issue holds great importance ahead of the Indian Science Congress, which is scheduled to be hosted by the varsity from January 3, 2023. The land, venue for the prestigious event, was under the grip of encroachment which was thriving for years.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be inaugurating the three-day event. The Prime Minister will deliver main address as per the tradition. The land was under encroachment for the last almost 20 years. A total of 70 acre land was taken by Maharashtra Government with a plan to set up sports complex, which was later shifted to Mankapur.
Unfortunately, the land acquired by the State remained un-utilised due to red-tapism. The university tried to get complete possession of the land by applying usual administrative procedure to clear encroachment.
‘The Hitavada’ pursued the matter and compelled the university to pursue the issue till it got resolved.
Taking undue advantage of the vacant land, encroachers established hotels.
The university moved the court but its administration never made hard efforts till Anoop Kumar, the then Divisional Commissioner took charge as acting Vice-Chancellor following resignation of Dr Vilas Sapkal. Anoop Kumar managed to see maximum encroachment get cleared from the varsity land. He also managed to arrange funds from industry tycoon late Rahul Bajaj. This helped start the construction of new administrative building of the University which was named after Jamnalal Bajaj. Still, a few encroachers continued their hotel business from the varsity land. Finally, in the wake of Indian Science Congress, Dr Itankar initiated action and ensured encroachment on entire land gets demolised.
In its first achievement related to Science Congress, the University had already received the confirmation from one of the four Nobel laureates, whom RTMNU planned to invite.
Sir Fraser Stoddart, Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston Illinois, USA has consented to attend Nagpur Congress. He received Nobel prize in 2016 in Chemistry. Another Nobel Laureate Prof Ada Yonath, who received Novel Prize in 2009 in Chemistry, also has given her consent for the Science Congress to be hosted by RTMNU. She also hails from USA. The University is trying to invite three more Nobel prize recipients.
As the Congress is likely to witness presence of 18,000 to 20,000 people from various fields of Science, University has made separate arrangements for inauguration and exhibition for Science Congress. Main programme of inauguration will be held on the 10-acre land on the road between Guru Nanak Bhavan and RTMNU’s Jamnalal Bajaj Bhavan while the science exhibition is to be arranged on 12-acre land lies on the road towards campus.