Public hearing on Wockhardt Hospital today

NAGPUR: In pursuance of orders of Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court, Nagpur Improvement Trust (NIT) will hold a public hearing on lease renewal of Maharashtra Rashtrabhasha Sabha, which has leased out the building to Wockhardt Hospital. It will be held at NIT office, Sadar at 12 noon on Monday. Bharat Jog of India Against Corruption has appealed citizens to attend it in large numbers.

Citizens Forum for Equality through its president Madhukar Kukde had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) against low premium being paid by Wockhardt to NIT. The HC had come down heavily on NIT and asked it to redetermine the premium. Subsequently, NIT asked the Sabha and Wockhardt to pay dues of over Rs200 crore.

Jog in a press release stated that the commercial exploitation of the government owned land was made in blatant violations of provisions of lease deed, Land Disposal Rules, 1983, NIT Act and Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act, 1966. Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) had also issued demolition notice to the Sabha for demolition of 11,000 square feet extra construction.