Kolhapur Villagers Launch Indefinite Hunger Strike Over Unresolved Rehabilitation
Villagers impacted by the Warna dam and Chandoli National Park projects in Kolhapur have initiated indefinite chain hunger strikes, citing unresolved rehabilitation issues that have persisted for nearly two decades despite repeated protests and government assurances. The protests commenced on Monday, with dam-affected villagers gathering outside the Kolhapur collectorate and national park-affected individuals demonstrating at the office of the chief conservator of forests in Tarabai Park, organized under the Shramik Mukti Dal banner.
Decades of Unfulfilled Promises
Bharat Patankar, national chief of Shramik Mukti Dal, highlighted the government's failure to address pending dues, noting that the Warna dam project has been ongoing for 40 years and the Chandoli National Park project for 25 years. He emphasized the need for retrospective implementation of sections 11 to 14 of the Rehabilitation Act, which would make affected families immediately eligible for land in the command area. "The government committed an error and must correct it," Patankar stated, pointing out that 67% of compensation was deducted from farmers for land allocation under policy, a mistake he insists the government must rectify.
Land Allocation and Compensation Demands
Project-affected farmer Maruti Patil revealed that proposals for diverting 215 hectares and 318 hectares of forest land for displaced families have been sent to the Union government for approval, with copies reportedly reaching the Kolhapur forest department from Delhi. However, he expressed concerns that the proposed land is dry, which under the Rehabilitation Act would require compensation at four times the land cost. "We are willing to accept monetary compensation of Rs 1.5 crore per hectare instead of alternative land," Patil said, adding that family-wise account holders have submitted written consent to this effect.
Outstanding Payments and Subsistence Allowance
The protesters also addressed financial grievances, noting that while a housing grant of Rs 1,67,000 per family was disbursed under the Central Government Act dated August 27, 2014, as agreed during previous agitations, an outstanding amount of Rs 3,600 per landowner remains unpaid. They demand immediate release of this balance, along with subsistence allowance and 65% interest on the pending amount, underscoring the prolonged nature of their struggle for justice and fair treatment.
