Nagpur: Former Maharashtra home minister and NCP (Sharadchandra Pawar) office-bearer Anil Deshmukh has urged the Nagpur district collector to cancel the proposed solid waste management project at Khadgaon in Nagpur rural, citing its proximity to Shantivan Chincholi and concerns over its possible impact on local residents and the environment.
151 at Mouza Khadgaon. He made the demand in a letter to the collector after the Bharatiya Bauddha Parishad, Shantivan Chincholi organisation, submitted a representation on Sept 23. He pointed out that the museum at the site houses over 1,000 rare personal belongings of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar, including the typewriter on which the original text of the Constitution was first typed, according to his letter. Deshmukh said the proposed waste project, located about 500 metres to one kilometre from Shantivan, would hurt the sentiments of Ambedkarite followers.
The project has been proposed on govt land in Survey No, according to Deshmukh. In his letter, Deshmukh said Shantivan Chincholi was a place of religious, cultural and historical significance for lakhs of Ambedkarite followers. The letter said residents of Khadgaon, Chicholi, Fetri, Lava, Bodhala, Sonbanagar and Dabha could be affected by the project.
Deshmukh subsequently inspected the proposed site, where local residents, sarpanches and residents from several surrounding villages reportedly opposed the project. Deshmukh also expressed concern over its possible impact on the nearby Mission India Hospital, Buddhist Dhamma and meditation centre and Samata Sainik Dal office.