Opposition to the Samruddhi highway has taken a new turn, the government has found a different way to purchase these lands by land acquisition (Land pulling). The government will directly purchase these lands by making district wise confidential negotiations. Villages which were not counted due to opposition from villagers were also included in this method. Also farmers who had disputed land with regards to mortgages, lease and ownership claim were acquired directly without informing them which caused annoyance.
For the Nagpur – Mumbai Samruddhi highway in March last year the district administration had informed about the land acquisition scheme and issued objections and notifications within 45 days. Even though there was opposition from the farmers the administrative department completed counting of numbers in many villages. Strong opposition was found from the farmers of Shivdade village in Sinnar district, were the administrative team had to face stone pelting. 42 farmers were taken into custody for criminal actions by the police during soft Lathi charge. The farmer’s resistance took a different twist after this incident they started to threaten the administration officer of committing suicide in their farms if they continued the counting process. This movement by the farmers is supported by the ruling Shivsena, Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana and the opposition Congress and NCP. The administration has stopped the anthology of five villages after this move by the farmers. Since this new process of land merger did not get good response from the farmers, a new notice is been issued for private negotiators to take possession of the land in Sinnar and Igatpuri districts.
The farmers from Sinnar and Igatpuri districts led by former BJP MLA Mr. Manikrao Kokate met the Senior officials from Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation. Farmers opposed of giving their agricultural land for making the highway and insisted to come up with an alternative for the same. The senior officials asked the farmers about other options. In this situation, the assurance was given to organize a meeting again in four to five days.
