Farmers stop land survey for Shaktipeeth Expressway

Kolhapur: A drone survey for the proposed Nagpur–Goa Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway in Khanapur tehsil of Sangli district was halted on Wednesday after women farmers staged a fierce protest.The survey, which began at 5am and covered the Chikhalhol and Bhagyanagar areas, was stopped when the protesters — many clutching petrol bottles — blocked and forced the revenue and land records department officials to suspend the operation.“We will not let our land be taken away under any circumstances. We will give our lives if necessary, but not our land,” angry women farmers from Chikhalhol said as they marched in the streets.The protest followed an earlier unrest on Tuesday when farmer and anti-Shaktipeeth activist Deepak Lad attempted self-immolation to oppose the drone survey.Keeping in mind the possible law-and-order issues, the administration had deployed a large police force in the Bhagyanagar area since 4am. However, the administration was helpless in front of the aggressive farmers and women. A strong verbal clash and minor scuffle also broke out between the farmers and the police creating an atmosphere of fear in the area.Managala Salokhe, one of the protesting farmers, said, “On one hand govt claims to support women through the ‘Ladki Bahin’ scheme, while on the other their livelihood (land) is being acquired for the highway. They want to call us Ladki Bahin and take our lands? We are ready to go to jail. We will give our lives, but not our land.”Meanwhile, on Wednesday, a protest march was taken out by the farmers at the Vita Tehsil office. Farmers’ leader and former MP Raju Shetti was also part of the march.Addressing the media, Shetti said, “Police were deployed at Vita-Nagewadi in Sangli district from 2 am to survey the Shaktipeeth highway. The police have started harassing the farmers who are opposing the survey of land for the Shaktipeeth Expressway. Why are they surveying at 3am without giving any notification?”