Setting a dangerous precedent, Nagpur Metropolitan Region Development Authority (NMRDA) has notified its intention to reduce the distance separating land mass from the river banks. The notice issued with sign of Metropolitan Commissioner, NMRDA, Sanjay Meena, talks about modification of Recreation Open Space (ROS) along major and minor rivers from 50 and 36 metres to just 15 meters. The drastic reduction in open space would widen the scope for commercial exploitation of the said land, in short provide opening for developers to erect tall towers in immediate vicinity of the major and minor rivers. As per experts, a major river is classified having catchment area of 2000 sq km while minor river represent the one whose area is below 2000 sq kms. In Nagpur, one major river could be Kanhan whose expanse is quite huge. As to minor rivers, the same would be Naag, Pohra and Pili rivers that flow through the city, but its major banks are in NMRDA area. The recent notification of Inspector General of Revenue and Stamps has made a significant hike in stamp duty for NMRDA region as the land rates here are sky-rocketing on basis of massive pace of urbanisation. And now, the notice of NMRDA seeking to modify the open land that is kept as buffer from nearby land mass could have linkage with above point.

 

The notice was issued by NMRDA under sec 37 of Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning Act, 1966, to seek objections for carrying out the modification in Development Plan that was finalised in year 2019. Similarly, it also mentions Unified Development Control and Promotion Regulations that are needed to be modified to allow for reduction of open space between river bank and land mass. NMRDA has passed Resolution No 4/09/12/02/2025 allowing for carrying out modifications. Sharad Paliwal, environment expert, says the move of NMRDA is fought with danger as they are knowingly stretching the concept of development without realising its implications in future. The existing width of 50 meters and 36 meters allowed the space to be utilised for tree plantation. In past, this space was utilised for compulsory afforestation and it acted as buffer from the floods.

 

Even otherwise talking in terms of local environment, the three river bodies of city have shallow base, means they are not very deep. And given the vagaries of nature against backdrop of climate change, even a single event of heavy rainfall would mean the upcoming or existing residential colonies would get flooded. About two years back, the floods in Naag River showcased the havoc it caused to citizens after the flash floods in wee hours. Therefore, he called upon public representatives to play active role in opposing the move to reduce the ROS by more than 50 per cent. A major river like Kanhan is known to cause havoc during rainy season and its width is quite big. The NMRDA region is quite big, almost 700 sq kms area, Contd on page 2