Meet over Shaktipeeth eway project on May 19

Kolhapur: The Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti has organised an all-party rally on May 19 to determine a strategy regarding the revised alignment of the Pavnar to Patradevi (Nagpur-Goa) Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway.The notification on the expressway's revised alignment was issued on May 5, 2026, and 78 villages in the Kolhapur district are set to be affected in this new plan. After the announcement, farmers living in villages falling within this alignment expressed widespread discontent. Thus, the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti have organised a rally at Shriram Society Hall, Kasba Bavda in Kolhapur to facilitate dialogue among the affected farmers.The Samiti's convenor, Girish Phonde said, "Various resolutions reflecting the demands and concerns of the farmers affected by the Shaktipeeth Highway project will be tabled during this public rally."Farmers from Ajara and Bhudargad tehsils on Monday gave a written statement of demand to their respective tehsildars demanding cancellation of the Shaktipeeth project.Sampat Desai, farmer from Ajara in oppose of the Shaktipeeth Expressway project, said, "If the highway is constructed according to this new alignment, it poses a grave risk of triggering severe floods. Furthermore, approximately 6,000 acres of agricultural land will be adversely affected, which will, in turn, impact the sugarcane crushing operations of local sugar factories. The hardships faced by villages already grappling with the menace of wild animals are expected to intensify significantly. The project also poses a serious threat to the environment."