Kolhapur: Congress MLC Satej Patil has decided to hold a mega protest march from Kolhapur's Dasara Chowk to the district collector's office on June 9 against the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway.
After the new alignment for the 850km-long highway was made public recently by the state government, farmers opposing the Rs 1.10 lakh crore highway met at Kolhapur's Kasba Bawda under the leadership of Patil and former MP and farmers' leader Raju Shetti.
Patil's Address to Farmers
Addressing a packed hall, Patil said, "On June 9, we are going to hold a massive protest. The farmers who will lose their land, those who will be affected by the floods due to the highway, and people who care for the forests and wildlife will come in large numbers to register their protest. Last time, for the old alignment, we took to the streets and forced the government to cancel the alignment passing through one part of Kolhapur. Now the new alignment finalized is more dangerous for the farmers and villagers. The June 9 march will force the government to cancel the Shaktipeeth Highway entirely."
Patil further alleged that the company assigned for the survey is deploying middlemen at a 10% commission rate of the land price to convince farmers to surrender their land. In Kolhapur, the proposed highway passes through 78 villages.
Technical Objections and Mobilization
"I have told the farmers to fight on technical aspects as well. The last date for filing objections ends on May 22. The objections should reach the authorities before May 22, and we must ensure that farmers have copies of the objections since last time we were told that the objections did not reach the office. Thereafter, till June 9, our volunteers will reach out to the farmers, get resolutions passed against the highway in gram panchayats and cooperative societies. I have also asked people to gather details of how much the floods of 2005, 2019, and 2021 impacted them," said Patil.
Shetti's Warning to Farmers
Shetti said, "It is said to be a dream project for CM Devendra Fadnavis, but it will remain in his dreams only. I appeal to farmers not to let officials carry out measurement of the land either on the ground or using drones. Do not let them take soil samples. Once the land measurement is carried out, nothing can be done, and the government will forcefully acquire the land. Recent postings, especially in Sangli and Kolhapur, are done to break the unity of the farmers and get the land for the highway."
Economic and Environmental Concerns
Shetti added that the economic cost of the highway will be very high. "The sugar industry will collapse as once the highway is built, there will be a reduction in sugarcane production by 25 lakh tons. Already, mills are operating just for 80 days and are not able to repay the farmers. Bridges will be built along the rivers passing through Sangli and Kolhapur districts, which will cause floods," he said.
