Nagpur: Several establishments built on encroached land belonging to Dr Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (PDKV) continue to enjoy uninterrupted electricity and water supply, raising serious questions about enforcement of regulations.
Residents Raise Concerns
Residents of Bajaj Nagar and East Shankar Nagar have flagged lapses in the verification processes of the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company Limited (MSEDCL) and the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). They question how restaurants and other commercial units have retained essential services for years despite the land being under dispute for encroachment.
Large swathes of PDKV land are flagged as encroached, yet commercial establishments there still receive electricity and water, residents said. Under prevailing norms, a new electricity connection requires proof of ownership or lawful occupancy, such as an occupancy certificate, Form 7/12 extract, tax receipts, or a lease agreement. In slum areas, an affidavit on stamp paper may be submitted where formal documents are unavailable.
MSEDCL and NMC Responses
A senior MSEDCL official stated that legacy records would have to be examined to ascertain the basis on which connections were granted. These are old connections. We will need to verify what documents were submitted at the time, the official said. Civic officials indicated a similar situation with water supply. A senior NMC official mentioned that most connections are old, and no fresh approvals or water connections have been granted since 2009, following a communication from PDKV.
Residents, however, question the inaction, arguing that services should have been discontinued once the encroachment was formally reported. They demand immediate action to ensure that unlawful occupiers do not benefit from public utilities.
