2 weeks Ago By Joy Sengupta
Pune: From calling former high court judge B G Kolse Patil for advice to making multiple oaths to hold on to their lands and gram sabhas — the landowners of the seven villages in Purandar taluka have intensified their agitation against the greenfield airport project over the past 10 days. With developments such as the MIDC's notification and the appointment of four officials to expedite land acquisition for the project taking place, the landowners are scared and worried. "Around 20% of over 5,000 landowners want to give their land and are awaiting the state govt's proposal.
We are trying to find out those who don't want to do that and would instead protest with us. Some people may go the other way later. Needless to say, we are worried and concerned about the latest developments," B S Memane, a landowner from Pargaon Memane village, told TOI.
Last week, the landowners invited former Bombay HC judge and social activist B G Kolse Patil to their village. "We have asked all landowners to give us in writing whether they want to give their land for the project. The meeting was attended by over 300 landowners, and all took an oath that they will not part with their land.
We are in touch with him, and if needed, will go to court too. The meeting was fruitful, and it was decided that protests will happen but in a non-violent way," Memane added. Another landowner said that of the seven villages, two — Pargaon Memane and Vanpuri — had their gram sabhas last week, and the rest would conduct their meetings this week.
"The agitation will require resources, and we have requested landowners to contribute. For each guntha of land belonging to a landowner, we have sought a sum of Rs 25 so that a fund can be created. This fund will be used only for the agitations.
We hope other villages too will do the same, and we will have a joint meeting soon," he said. With Gudi Padwa on March 30, landowners said many might not celebrate the festival. "There are many doubts and apprehensions among the people.
There will be a big meeting on the festival day on further course of action, and some major decisions will be taken," Memane said, and added that their attempts to meet deputy CM Ajit Pawar had proved futile. A total of 2,832 hectares of land belonging to seven villages — Pargaon Memane, Vanpuri, Kumbharvalan, Khanvadi, Udachivadi, Munjavadi, and Ekhatpur — will be acquired for the project. On March 10, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) issued a notification declaring 2,753.
053 hectares of land from 3,352 land survey numbers across the seven villages as an industrial area with immediate effect. An additional 70 hectares would be acquired for the airport from the state forest department. A week later, on March 18, Pune collector Jitendra Dudi appointed four land acquisition officers to accelerate the process.
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