In a significant victory for citizen activism, the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) has officially abandoned its controversial plan to demolish a decades-old school to build a rest house for the upcoming Simhastha Kumbh Mela. The decision comes after a week of sustained public demonstrations and strong opposition from residents, activists, and local leaders.
Public Outcry Forces a Rethink
The civic body's initial proposal involved tearing down the 57-year-old B D Bhalekar School to construct its first new rest house, intended to accommodate visitors during the massive religious congregation. This move sparked immediate and widespread backlash across Nashik. Opponents argued that the school premises, which have served the community for over half a century, should be preserved exclusively for educational purposes.
In response, a coalition of concerned citizens formed the School Bachao Samiti (Save the School Committee). The group organized daily protests and demonstrations, passionately advocating for the protection of the school. A common demand from the protestors was for the NMC to consider building a new Marathi-medium school on the site instead, highlighting a perceived need for educational infrastructure over a guest house.
New Location and Project Details
Yielding to this formidable public pressure, municipal officials have now announced a complete relocation of the project. An NMC official confirmed to the Times of India that the new rest house will be constructed in the Gangapur Road area. The tender for the revised project has already been issued.
The financial and temporal scope of the project remains largely unchanged. The construction is estimated to cost approximately Rs 10.36 crore (₹10.4 crore). Officials have projected that the work will be completed within a timeframe of nine to twelve months, aiming to have the facility ready ahead of the Simhastha Kumbh Mela.
A Win for Civic Engagement
This episode stands as a prominent example of successful civic engagement in urban planning. The swift and organized response from the Nashik community forced the local government to reconsider and alter a major administrative decision. The outcome underscores the power of collective action in safeguarding public assets deemed valuable for social and educational development.
While the NMC's need for additional accommodation for the Kumbh Mela is acknowledged, the resolution demonstrates a compromise where development does not come at the cost of erasing a longstanding community institution. The focus now shifts to the Gangapur Road site, where the civic body will proceed with its plans to build the much-needed rest house for the millions of expected pilgrims.
