Latest news with #Shaktipeeth
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Sangli farmers resort to bhajans to protest Shaktipeeth project
Kolhapur: Farmers from Sangli district's Tasgaon have adopted a unique form of protest against the proposed 802km Shaktipeeth Expressway project. Whenever MSRDC officials arrive for land survey and mapping, the farmers start performing bhajans and kirtans with anti-project lyrics, accompanied by traditional instruments like taal and mridangam, in a peaceful 'Gandhigiri' style of resistance. Mahesh Kharade, Sangli district president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, said, "This is farmers' way of showing their resentment, in a Gandhigiri style. For three days, farmers from Matkunki village didn't allow land survey for the project. The anti-Shaktipeeth bhajan written by a farmer, Amol Patil, made even the highway officials think over what they were doing." Tasgaon tehsildar Atul Patole said the land survey in Tasgaon needed to be carried out in 10 villages. "The survey was completed in Sawarde and Siddhewadi villages where there was less landholding by farmers. In Sawalaj and Nagaon Kavathe, the land survey is ongoing. In some villages, the farmers are opposing the survey. We are holding discussions with the farmers and trying to clear their doubts about the project. " The land survey in Sangli district's Miraj tehsil will commence from July 25, where farmers have also decided to oppose the project. MLC Satej Patil said, "If farmers support the Shaktipeeth project, why have so many objections been raised against it? The fight against Shaktipeeth will continue."
United News of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Raju Shetty vows to fight against Shaktipeeth highway
Kolhapur / Sindhudurg, Jul 16 (UNI) MP and president of Anti-Shaktipeeth Highway Action Committee, Raju Shetty, today termed the proposed Shaktipeeth Highway being built by the Maharashtra government as a "Swarthpeeth" (selfish pursuit), which will plunge the state into a debt trap, and vowed to continue his fight till this highway is cancelled. Talking to reporters at Sawantwadi in Sindhudurg district after visiting Sri Patradevi Goa area, he said, "Proposed Shaktipeeth Highway being built by the Maharashtra goverment, is a 'Swarthpeeth' (selfish pursuit), which will plunge the state into a debt trap, and I will fight till the last drop of my blood to get this highway cancelled." Shetty emphasised that his agitation for cancellation of proposed Shaktipeeth was not political but was for protecting the rights of the people of the land and to save the fragile environment. He said that the estimated expenditure of this proposed Shaktipeeth highway is Rs 86,000 crore but considering working style of the state government, the proposed expenditure will raise up to Rs 1.50 lakh crore, which will not be affordable for the government but mount the burden of loan on the state, he reasoned. He made an emotional appeal to the people of Sindhudurg district to extend support for cancellation of the proposed Shaktipeeth highway. Asked about statement of Konkan MLA Deepak Kesarkar who had said that the proposed Shaktipeeth highway will not pass through the Sindhudurg district, Shetty replied that the government has not changed its plan. UNI SSS SS
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers' protest forces postponement of land survey for Shaktipeeth in Sangli
Kolhapur: Land mapping and surveys for the Shaktipeeth Expressway was postponed in Sangli's Dongarsoni village on Monday because of huge protests from farmers across 12 districts in Maharashtra. A total of 8,500 hectares of farmland will be acquired for this 802km long highway project connecting 12 districts in the state and costing about Rs 86,000 crore. It aims to connect major pilgrimage sites and reduce travel time between Nagpur and Goa to about seven hours. Mahesh Kharade, Sangli district president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, said, "The farmers gathered on Monday morning at Dongarsoni village of Tasgaon tehsil to oppose the land survey for the Shaktipeeth project, but no one arrived for the exercise. On Tuesday, they have declared land mapping at Siddhewadi village. The farmers will strongly oppose the project there as well. We won't let this project go on. What's the use of this highway if fertile land is going to be acquired?" In Sangli district, the Shaktipeeth Expressway will pass through 19 villages, for which 717.187 hectares of farmland from 7,611 farmers will be acquired. The land survey and mapping from 10 villages at Tasgaon tehsil in Sangli district have been planned to be carried out between July 7 and 22. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like An engineer reveals: One simple trick to get internet without a subscription Techno Mag Learn More Undo On Monday noon, a meeting of farmers from Chandgad, Ajara and Gadhinglaj tehsils was held at Gadhinglaj town after the local Chandgad MLA Shivaji Patil (independent MLA supporting BJP) put forward a demand in front of MSRDC officials to take the Shaktipeeth Highway via Gadhinglaj, Ajara and Chandgad route to allow industrial and tourism development. Farmers in large numbers gathered for the meeting and showed displeasure over the MLA's statement, saying that MLA should not shatter the dreams of farmers. Sangram Kupekar, former zilla parishad member, said, "MLA Patil is seeking development, which is not required here. Thousands of hectares of fertile farmland will be lost to the unnecessary project. We will intensify our agitation and carry out a road blockade and a protest rally soon against Shaktipeeth. "
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers' protest against Shaktipeeth disrupts traffic on national highways
Kolhapur: Thousands of vehicles travelling on national highways in western Maharashtra and the Marathwada region experienced disruptions and were stranded for nearly three hours on Tuesday. The delay was caused by the chakka jam protest conducted by farmers under the banner of Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti across 12 districts. The farmers opposed the proposed 802km Shaktipeeth project, which aims to connect Pawnar in Wardha district to Patra Devi in Sindhudurg district. The project is estimated to cost Rs 86,000 crore. The protest was led by farmers' leader Raju Shetti, former MLA Ruturaj Patil, and former MLA Raju Awale at Panchaganga bridge in Shiroli. Traffic on the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway 48 at Panchaganga bridge in Shiroli, and the Nagpur-Ratnagiri National Highway 166 at Ankali Phata in Sangli district was affected by the protest. Protests also took place on the Kalyan-Nirmal National Highway 222 in Nanded, the Latur-Mumbai National Highway 548B, and in Hingoli, further impacting highway traffic. Despite the police earmarking alternative routes, many vehicles remained immobilised for nearly three hours. Nadgowda Vallari, a truck driver from Bengaluru, said he had been stuck near the Tawade hotel in Kolhapur for two and a half hours. "My truck is a four-axle truck with heavy industrial machinery on it. I can't think of entering small city roads," he said. Omkar Salunkhe, a traveller from Gandhinagar, said, "I wanted to travel merely 5km to reach Shiroli. The alternative route, via Kasba Bawda-Shiye, is nearly 18km long. Therefore, instead of taking the alternative route, I am stranded here waiting for the protest to conclude." A significant police presence was maintained at the protest sites. In Kolhapur, some protesting farmers attempted 'jalsamadhi' by jumping into the swollen Panchaganga river at Shiroli bridge, but were prevented by the police. Sushila Patil, a farmer from Kogil village in Kolhapur, said, "Govt is not allowing us to die, nor to live. If our farmland is acquired, how will we survive? What will we eat? My family of eight survives on our small piece of farmland. What will we do if all the farmland gets acquired for this project? If they (officials) come for land acquisition, we will teach them a lesson. We will die, but won't give our farmland." Police had issued a notice to Raju Shetti, urging him to refrain from reaching the protest site, but he did not comply. Shetti said, "Getting wet in the rain, farmers in large numbers are protesting against govt because they want to save their farmlands. The Shaktipeeth highway will further increase the severity of floods in Kolhapur and Sangli districts. CM Devendra Fadnavis, on July 6, will be coming to the Vitthal-Rukmini temple at Pandharpur for the Ashadi-Ekadashi puja. Before that, on July 4, the farmers will pray at Vitthal-Rukmini temple, requesting Lord Vitthal to give the CM some sense to cancel the Shaktipeeth project." Meanwhile, opposition party MLAs and MLCs protested in front of the legislative assembly on Tuesday, demanding the cancellation of the project. MLC Satej Patil, MLC Ambadas Danve, Jitendra Awhad, and others attended the event. Satej Patil addressed the issue during the monsoon session of the assembly, stating, "We are celebrating Agriculture Day on Tuesday. Farmers from all 12 districts have to come on the roads on the same day to save their farmlands. When there already is a Nagpur-Ratnagiri National Highway with only 25% traffic movement, why is there a need to construct another highway, destroying fertile land?" Satish Kulkarni, who heads the Nanded local action committee of farmers against the Shakitpeeth highway, said: "Around 300 farmers from Nanded distrcit will be affected. We all have well-irrigated agricultural lands that receive water from Upper Penganga and Purna dams. No govt compensation can cover our damage," he said. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers demonstrate against land survey for Shaktipeeth expressway project
Farmers in various districts of Marathwada demonstrated on the streets on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) opposing the land survey for the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project. Agitating farmers expressed concerns over the acquisition of their fertile land for the 802-kilometre greenfield, access-controlled, six-lane corridor that will connect central and western Maharashtra to Goa. The protests were renewed after the Maharashtra Cabinet on June 24 approved the acquisition of land for the project. Also Read | Maharashtra Cabinet clears ₹20,787 crore for Shaktipeeth Expressway amid farmers' opposition The expressway will pass through Nanded, Hingoli, Parbhani, Beed, Latur and Dharashiv districts in the Marathwada region, an official said. Farmers staged a sit-in protest on a road at Malegaon in Ardhapur taluka of Nanded district, vowing not to part with their land. "The government has ignored agriculturists while surveying for the Shaktipeeth project. We will oppose the survey," Nanded MP Ravindra Chavan told PTI. Also Read | Farmers march to Mumbai, demand scrapping of Shaktipeeth project Farmers sat on the Nanded-Washim Road in Hingoli district, briefly disrupting the vehicular traffic. "I am opposing this project as my orchard will be acquired, rendering me landless," a protester said. Another farmer said the compensation for the acquisition of land won't last forever. "I hold two acres of land which will be acquired for the expressway project. What's the use of compensation? It will not last forever. As a farmer, I am dependent on land", he said. Similar agitations were staged in parts of Beed and Dharashiv districts. Named after the revered Shakti Peethas or important Hindu pilgrimage sites, the expressway is envisioned to improve connectivity to religious sites and boost regional development. The expressway will link 18 major pilgrimage sites, including Shaktipeeths such as those dedicated to goddesses Renuka Devi in Mahur, Tulja Bhavani in Tuljapur, Mahalakshmi in Kolhapur, and Patradevi in Goa. Originating from Pavnar in Wardha district in eastern Maharashtra to Patradevi in Sindhudurg on the Maharashtra-Goa border, the expressway will pass through 12 districts.
