Fresh TDR proposal for Sadhugram on the cards

NASHIK: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has decided to make a fresh proposal for acquisition of land for Sadhugram against the Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) following suggestions and objections by the landowners. The civic body had received a directive from the state on Monday to cancel the TDR it had assured to the farmers.
Earlier, the NMC had sent a proposal to the state to give 10 times TDR for the acquisition of land instead of the present 1 TDR.But the state has asked the municipal corporation to prepare a fresh TDR proposal.
Mayor Ashok Murtadak and deputy mayor Gurumit Bagga held a meeting with farmers on Thursday to inform them about the civic body's initiation of the proposal. They assured the farmers that the civic body was with them and was playing the role of co-ordinator between the state and the farmers.
Murtadak said, "We held a meeting with the farmers to clear the policy of the municipal corporation pertaining to land acquisition for Sadhugram as well as the TDR proposal."
Bagga said, "We had sent a proposal to the state government for giving 10 times TDR to the farmers while acquiring land for Sadhugram at Tapovan. But the state government has asked the municipal corporation to make a fresh proposal for TDR following inviting suggestions and objections from the Sadhugram land affected people. The state government has given a deadline of three months for the purpose."
He added, "The requisition process of the land for Sadhugram has to be carried out by the government. The NMC will develop the Sadhugram once the process has been completed."
Around three lakh sadhus are expected to visit the city during the Kumbh Mela and around 323 acre of land has been identified for the Sadhugram. Of this, 54 acre has been acquired by the municipal corporation. While 163 acre falls in the no-development zone, 58 acres in the residential zones. The status of no development zone and residential zone on these total 221 acres have been changed and have been reserved for kumbh mela by the state government. While the NMC has already sent a proposal to the state government to reserve rest of 48 acres for Kumbh mela. The NMC has two options: It can either acquire the remaining 269 acres of land on a temporary basisor opt for complete acquisition. The land could be acquired either by giving monetary compensation or by acquiring it against TDR. The NMC may get the land free of cost if additional TDR is granted to the landowners.