Crematorium plot in Smart City diverted

Nagpur: What began as a routine civic review has snowballed into a potentially explosive land diversion scandal, raising serious questions over how land reserved for a public crematorium in the Smart City area mysteriously shrank from nearly 17 acres to a mere 1.5 acres.

The startling revelation surfaced during a meeting chaired by Mayor Neeta Thakre at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) headquarters. Officials, when pressed for updates on crematorium infrastructure, disclosed that the land originally earmarked in the Development Plan (DP) had drastically reduced, triggering shock and suspicion among elected representatives.

Ruling Party Leader Narendra Borkar did not mince words, alleging a deep-rooted nexus between insiders and a prominent builder to siphon off prime public land. “This is not a clerical lapse. This appears to be a calculated dilution of reservation, possibly executed by bending or bypassing due process,” he said.

According to Borkar, the original DP had reserved nearly 35 acres, of which around 17.5 acres were specifically allocated for crematorium and ghat development. However, after the Smart City authority took over planning control, the reservation allegedly vanished into thin air, with even senior officials unable to clarify its current legal status.

The issue has exposed glaring procedural lapses. Under the UDCPR norms, any change in land reservation mandates public notification and invites objections. Yet, no such procedure appears to have been followed. “If the land was diverted, where is the public notice? Who approved it? And on what grounds?” Borkar questioned, hinting at possible manipulation at high levels.

Equally disturbing is the timing. The city’s Pardi crematorium is already grappling with capacity issues, and authorities were banking on the Smart City land to develop a modern, large-scale facility. Instead, the drastic reduction has jeopardised the plan, leaving citizens to bear the brunt of administrative opacity.

The absence of clarity over the beneficiary of the land has only deepened the mystery. “We still don’t know who acquired this land. But this is public property, it cannot just disappear,” Borkar asserted, adding that he is preparing to file an FIR to trigger a criminal investigation. He also indicated that he may move court if necessary to ensure accountability.

The issue was raised in the presence of East Nagpur MLA Krishna Khopde and Standing Committee Chairperson Shivani Dani, both of whom were reportedly taken aback by the disclosure. Sources said the meeting witnessed a stunned silence as officials struggled to provide answers.

Mayor Thakre has now ordered a detailed probe, directing the administration to submit a comprehensive report. But the bigger question remains, how did land meant for the city’s last rites vanish under the watch of authorities?

Calling it a matter of “dignity in death,” Borkar warned that the truth must come out. “This is not just about land. This is about public trust being compromised. If rules were flouted, those responsible must face consequences,” he said.

As the probe begins, the issue threatens to expose not just bureaucratic lapses, but a possible land grab hidden behind the façade of urban development.

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