MUMBAI: Maharashtra women and child development minister Pankaja Munde ’s visit this week to a district grappling with endemic malnutrition has attracted controversy even before her arrival. Pankaja is scheduled to arrive in Palghar, where over 208 people have died of malnutrition this year, on Wednesday to review the measures taken by her department to tackle the problem.District collector Abhijit Bangar has imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC within a radius of one km from Khoch and Kalamwadi villages during the time Munde is expected to be there, from 7am to 8pm. The section bars the assembly of more than five people. The reason: the district administration fears an agitation by members of a nonprofit, Shramjeevi Sanghatana.The collector’s order states that when tribal development minister Vishnu Savara visited the district on September 15 to meet the parents of a child who had died of malnutrition, activists of the group had created a ruckus. Prohibitory orders are necessary to maintain peace and law and order, he says in the order.Former CM Ashok Chavan was among those who condemned the move, saying if Munde was scared of visiting the tribal villages, she should not only abandon her tour but quit the cabinet.Munde said she had nothing to do with the decision. “I told the collector I am not in favour of it, and am willing to meet a delegation of the Sanghatana,” she said.