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The Maharashtra government has sanctioned INR 2,267 crore for the acquisition of 191.21 acres of land earmarked for the Sadhu Gram project linked to the 2027 Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela. The funding, approved through a government resolution issued by the Urban Development Department, will support the creation of a temporary township for seers and religious akharas during the mega religious gathering. The allocation includes compensation for landowners and administrative expenses related to the acquisition process. The state has imposed strict conditions on the utilisation of the funds, warning that any diversion for non-project purposes would be treated as a serious financial irregularity. The approval forms part of preparations to secure the remaining land required for the Kumbh Mela infrastructure.
The Maharashtra government has approved INR 2,267 crore for acquiring 191.21 acres of land reserved for the Sadhu Gram project in Nashik, a key component of preparations for the 2027 Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela. The approval was granted through a government resolution issued by the Urban Development Department in the past week, with the funding intended to facilitate the acquisition of land required for a temporary township that will accommodate seers and religious akharas during the religious congregation.
According to the resolution, the sanctioned amount covers compensation for the acquisition of 191.21 acres of land located within the limits of the Nashik Municipal Corporation. An additional INR 3 crore has been allocated towards administrative expenses associated with the acquisition process.
The state government said that approximately 377 acres had been reserved for Sadhu Gram and associated facilities under the Nashik Development Plan-2017. Of this, nearly 94 acres have already been acquired. The remaining land must be secured before the commencement of the 2027 Kumbh Mela to support the infrastructure requirements of the event.
The government resolution directed that compensation payable to landowners be verified and disbursed immediately through the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system. Responsibility for ensuring the timely acquisition and possession of the land has been jointly assigned to the Nashik district collector and the municipal commissioner of Nashik. The order emphasised that delays in securing the land should be avoided to prevent any impact on project implementation.
A significant condition attached to the approval relates to the utilisation of the sanctioned funds. The state government stated that the allocation is exclusively meant for the Sadhu Gram land acquisition project and cannot be used for any other purpose. The restriction applies not only to the principal amount but also to any interest earned on the funds.
The resolution further warned that any permanent or temporary diversion of the sanctioned amount would be treated as a serious financial irregularity. In such cases, the implementing authority, urban local body, agency or officials concerned would be held accountable and could face action under applicable provisions.
The government also clarified that the financial approval represents a one-time funding arrangement. Any escalation in project costs beyond the sanctioned INR 2,267 crore will have to be borne entirely by the Nashik Municipal Corporation. The state government stated that no additional grant would be provided over and above the approved allocation.
The funding approval follows a decision taken during a meeting of the state cabinet’s infrastructure committee held on April 22. The sanction forms part of the broader preparations being undertaken for the 2027 Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela, one of the country’s largest religious gatherings, which requires extensive land and infrastructure planning to accommodate pilgrims, religious organisations and associated facilities.
Source - PTI
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