Farmers in Nanded Oppose Fresh Land Acquisition for Samruddhi Expressway
Farmers from around 12 villages near Nanded, approximately 260 km from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, are opposing a new round of land acquisition for the proposed extension of the Samruddhi Expressway between Jalna and Nanded. The action committee of affected farmers has warned of a blockade of the inter-state Akola-Sangareddy national highway on June 18, highlighting that they had already given away their lands in 2023.
Dasrao Hambarde, a member of the action committee, stated that he had offered nearly three acres of land for the expressway earlier and now faces losing an additional acre. “The land in our area is well irrigated due to the nearby Vishnupuri dam. Our future generations will not forgive us if we do not raise our voices against the official snatching of our fertile lands,” he said.
According to the action committee, around 200 farmers from Nanded district will be affected by the fresh acquisition. “Our land is in the vicinity of the municipal limits of Nanded. The land is fetching anything between Rs 1 crore and Rs 4 crore per acre as per the current market rate. The government, however, is only offering Rs 20 lakh to Rs 25 lakh per acre, which is highly objectionable,” said Ashok More, another affected farmer.
The action committee reported that 172 objections have been formally filed against the new acquisition round. Sub-divisional officer for Nanded, Sachin Khallal, confirmed that around 109 hectares of additional land is needed for the expressway extension. “We have received requisition from the MSRDC for additional land and the official process for another round of land acquisition is being carried out accordingly as per laid down norms,” he said.
Khallal added that objections raised by the farmers will be taken into account, and efforts will be made to reach an amicable solution. Authorities stated that the additional land is required for service roads and other infrastructure alongside the expressway extension.
