Trimbakeshwar Residents Vent Anger Over Demolitions and Compensation as Kumbh Authority Officials Skip Nagar Sabha
At a nagar sabha called by the Trimbakeshwar municipal council on 17 October, residents, elected representatives and saints criticised the Kumbh Mela Authority over lost shops and houses, inadequate compensation and lack of information. TOI reports that Authority officials did not attend. The tehsildar said he would send a report to senior officials.
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First announced on
Anger over Kumbh development works boiled over in Trimbakeshwar on Saturday, 17 October 2026. The Times of India reported on 18 October that residents criticised the Nashik-Trimbakeshwar Kumbh Mela Authority after its officials failed to attend a nagar sabha (town meeting) called by the municipal council. This is a media report; the Authority has not responded publicly in the sources we found.
What happened at the meeting
- The meeting was chaired by municipal council president Triveni Tungar, with MLA Hiraman Khoskar and tehsildar Govind Jadhav present.
- Residents, elected representatives and saints raised the loss of shops and houses, inadequate compensation, daily inconvenience and lack of information about development plans.
- They alleged that locals were displaced without being taken into confidence, that rehabilitation promises were not kept and that departments were poorly coordinated.
- Residents also asked why works were rushed through only in the last year, when the Kumbh comes every 12 years, and why houses and shops in town were demolished when works to spread pilgrim movement outside town were already under way.
In their words
Shopkeeper Ramesh Bhusare told the meeting, as quoted by TOI: "You took away the shop but didn't give any alternate arrangement for me."
Resident Keshav Gaikwad asked why Trimbakeshwar was not getting the four times compensation that, he said, the Prime Minister announced for properties acquired in Kashi.
What comes next
Tehsildar Jadhav heard the grievances and said, "I will convey your feelings, grievances, and pain to the concerned authorities." He added that a full report of the proceedings would go to senior officials. No compensation decision or new rehabilitation plan has been announced.
This adds to recent friction in Trimbakeshwar, including the row over the proposed two-month temple closure. See Priests and trust oppose temple closure.
Related: Trimbakeshwar Kumbh 2027 guide, Kumbh status board.
