Citizens of Nagpur brought a host of long-pending civic and livelihood concerns directly to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari during a Janta Darbar held at the Jansampark Karyalaya on Sunday. The public hearing saw a significant turnout, with residents and community representatives from various localities presenting their struggles with basic infrastructure and living conditions.
Infrastructure Crisis: Waterlogged Roads and Missing Sewage Systems
A primary focus of the grievances was the dire state of basic civic amenities. Vijay Khedkar, a resident of Chinchbhuvan, painted a stark picture of his locality, situated in the yellow belt. He explained that the absence of properly constructed roads turns the area uninhabitable during the monsoon. Water levels rise dangerously, making it impossible for residents to stay in their own homes or even reach them. This has forced many, like Khedkar, to abandon their houses and live on rent elsewhere in the city.
The problem of civic decay was echoed by Sachin Khobragade from Kalamna, Bajpai Nagar. He arrived with a group of more than ten residents to seek urgent intervention. Khobragade described a complete breakdown: roads are broken, a sewage system is absent, and water accumulation makes daily commuting extremely difficult for the community.
Livelihood Insecurity and Land Rights Disputes
The concerns at the Janta Darbar extended beyond physical infrastructure to issues of job security and housing rights. A representative, speaking anonymously, highlighted the plight of approximately 145 workers including janitors, guards, and canteen staff attached to the Income Tax Department. Despite serving for nearly 25 years, their employment remains precarious, with work contracts renewed only for three-month periods. They pointed out that while judicial orders have mandated reforms for temporary workers, implementation is lacking, and their appeals to officials have yielded no change.
On the housing front, residents of Fukat Nagar attended the hearing to push for the conversion of their leasehold land into full ownership rights. Having lived in the area for almost five decades, they argued that proper land registry is essential to access civic amenities without hurdles. They cited the precedent of Naikwadi, where residents were granted rightful ownership of their homes, as a model for the resolution they seek.
A Glimmer of Hope After Direct Engagement
The large and direct engagement at the Janta Darbar has instilled a sense of hope among the citizens of Nagpur. Many left the event with the expectation that their long-standing issues, which have remained unresolved despite repeated appeals to concerned officials, might finally see concrete action. The forum provided a rare opportunity for the public to voice their frustrations directly to a senior minister, raising anticipation for follow-up measures.
