Disagreement among ruling party MLAs over proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth highway route

Kolhapur: A difference of opinion has emerged among ruling party MLAs from Kolhapur over the proposed construction of Nagpur-Goa Maharashtra Shaktipeeth highway, which will pass through the district.While state planning commission head Rajesh Kshirsagar conducted a meeting with various organisations in support of construction of the highway, minister of medical education Hasan Mushrif has said that the highway won't pass through Kolhapur district.He said that he has already showed the notification for cancellation of the highway. Kshirsagar is a city MLA and is not aware of the opposition to the highway in rural areas, said Mushrif."The govt is implementing new measures. If good communication facilities are created, tourism development along with industrial and IT sectors will also receive a boost. Due to this highway, the distance of eighteen hours will be reduced to eight hours. The development perspective is more than the loss caused by the highway. The Mumbai-Nagpur Samriddhi Highway faced similar opposition. But once it was made, this increased industrial investment in North Maharashtra and Vidarbha. Despite the potential of Kolhapur, there are no major projects here, and the district has fallen back in terms of development. I appeal to all to come together for development without making the Shaktipeeth highway a political issue," Kshirsagar said.Speaking about Kshirsagar's statement, minister of medical education Hasan Mushrif said, "We have already said that Shaktipeeth highway won't pass through Kolhapur. The notification regarding the highway has been cancelled and already been shown. This notification was issued due to opposition from farmers. Rajesh Kshirsagar is an MLA who lives in an urban area. The farmers are opposing the highway."Meanwhile, Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Kruti Samiti has also threatened to intensify its agitation. Girish Phonde, the samiti convener, said, "It is a misunderstanding that development will take place only if Shaktipeeth highway is constructed. For the last ten years, no one stopped development. CM Fadnavis is intentionally using other public representatives and associations to show that there is huge support for the highway being built for the benefit of contractors."