PWD asked to decide value for land requisitioned for Sadhugram

NASHIK: The public works department (PWD) has been asked to ascertain the value for hiring land for Kumbh Mela work after the state government gave the nod to the district administration to carry out requisition of land for Sadhugram.
“The process of finalising the rate that has to be paid to the landlords for land requisition for a period of 14 months starting November 2014 has begun and the PWD has been asked to finalise the rates so that the district administration can clear the transaction and settle the issues at the earliest – paving way for construction of infrastructure for the Sadhugram,” a senior revenue official associated with the process said.
More than three lakh sadhus are expected to visit Tapovan areas during next year’s Kumbh Mela and the numbers of pilgrims will be at least 30-times more. The population of pilgrims will be floating, while the sadhus area expected to stay here for a period of more than four months, during which the Shahi Snaan rituals will be performed.
Considering the numbers of sadhus staying at Nashik, the Nashik Municipal Corporation was planning to acquire land for the Sadhugram which can house them and the pilgrims.
The proposal for land acquisition was pending with the state government, which has for the time being asked the district administration to go for land requisition instead of acquisition.
“The idea of land acquisition of 269 acres out of 323 acres identified for the Sadhugram witnessed a stiff opposition from the farmers in the areas, who wanted the administration to restrict the sadhus to the already acquired 58 acres of land. Sensing the mood and the time left for the grand event, there is hardly much time left to carry out acquisition that was bound to enter the arena of the court. Instead, the government has decided for requisition for the period of 14 months,” the official said.
Accordingly, the process for requisition will begin and be completed soon. “We have started the process and hope the things to be resolved by November 2014, after which the land will be handed over to the corporation that will lay sewerlines, street lights, footpaths, water supply lines and other activities to ensure that the sadhus got the plots for their camps. The tents and the camps will be raised by sadhus,” the officer said.
The district administration has already considered requisition of 278 acres of land for Sadhugram at Nashik and 30 acres of land at Trimbakeshwar. The administration has collectively earmarked Rs 60 crore for the same in its Rs 98.45-crore Kumbh Mela plan.
“We have earmarked Rs 60 crore for the requisition. As of now we have got a go ahead only for land in Nashik. We are expecting action on Trimabkeshwar as well. However, if the value of land exceeds the proposal we will request the state government to look into the process,” the officer said.