Farmers refuse to part with land for Pune airport, threaten agitation

Pune: Stop at Shiroli-Chandoos villages in Khed taluka of Pune district and the fear and uncertainty over the likely loss of inherited farm land and their known way of living comes across loud and clear.
Bhivraj Dhavale (48), a farmer in Shiroli who along with his brothers own 15 acres, is a disturbed man. These days, he has another job. Along with other villagers, he keeps vigil at the local barber shop, on the look out for any government officer who might come down to begin the land acquisition (for the proposed new international airport at Chakan) process.
“We do not want to give up our lands and we do not want money for it,” says Dhavale while other villagers nod in agreement.
Their decision not to vacate the land has been conveyed to the tehsil office and they have threatened to agitate if the authorities proceed regardless. With 2,351 hectares to be acquired from seven villages in Chakan for the proposed airport, the villagers are an aggrieved lot and are already in protest mode. They know about Nandigram and know what farmers can achieve. Meanwhile, the countdown has started for these farmers as the MIDC, on behalf of the state government, has issued a notice to begin the land acquisition procedure.
When contacted, MIDC CEO Rajiv Jalota said that although MIDC has notified the land for acquisition, cultivable land will not be acquired. “It’s up to the district officers now to do the talking,” he said. According to Khed SDO, Gajanan Patil, the staff is yet to meet the people and talk to them.
26/12/07 Nisha Nambiar & Vinod Mathew /Indian Express

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Categories: Airports Dec 2007, New Dec 2007