nagpur the historic kasturchand park kp that has remained untouched for over 100 years is set to lose a thin sliver of its land to another iconic project of the city metro rail heritage conservation committee has decided to okay the proposal of nagpur metro rail corporation ltd nmrcl to acquire a roughly 144 x 31 feet strip of kp amounting to about 4395 sq ft along kamptee road for building approaches of metro station committee headed by retired ias officer arun patankar met on monday now minutes of meeting will be approved by patankar on tuesday the committee will then send noc to collector office that would submit it with nmrcls proposal to the state government kp is owned by the government and its consent is required for handing over a part of land to nmrcl since submission of proposal before the committee in october social organizations sports clubs etc have been opposing the move still collector office had no plans to rethink as neglecting kp for years now only hope to prevent from kps possible destruction was from heritage committee the government would have never given permission had heritage committee opposed the proposal committee took the decision despite strong opposition registered by activists of parivartan citizens forum including dinesh naidu in the meeting nmrcl was represented by dg philips and rk yelkawar confirming about the decision patankar told toi metro rail was important for the city so no double mind to give permission activists had no major opposition for metro stations approaches project but for kp covered with lot of commercial activitiesexhibitions and utilized illegally for various purposes i will hold meeting with collector and civic chief to discuss issues related to kp he said patankar added nmrcl should ensure beautification and cleanliness of kp as its social responsibility nmrcl should also do policing of kp to prevent from illegal activities no more space other than proposed should be used by nmrcl and no inconvenience to sportsperson or citizens he said welcoming the heritage committees decision nmrcl managing director brijesh dixit said metro rail project very crucial for city and need is to complete it within time metro station requires approaches from both ends one approach will be towards satkar guest house land and other from kp metro station at kp will benefit citizens coming from railway station and government offices in civil lines we will ensure no problems to kp other than our project he said naidu said it will be unfortunate for kp in case permission given for metro stations approaches inside the ground kp will turn into metro station and parking place it will also lose its importance we will continue to fight against the proposal he said rti activist th naidu said heritage committee should not have taken decision before seeking public mandate atleast government should invite suggestions and objections as amendment requires to change user of kp in mrtp act it will give a chance to others for demanding kp land in case