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Maha govt plans crackdown on those blocking village access roads
Maha govt plans crackdown on those blocking village access roads

Time of India

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Time of India

Maha govt plans crackdown on those blocking village access roads

Nagpur: Maharashtra is preparing a state-wide blueprint to strengthen farm and village access roads, with strict penalties under consideration for individuals obstructing such projects. Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Wednesday announced that the plan, being drafted by a high-powered committee, will be finalised and presented to the state cabinet by the end of September. The committee, comprising ministers, MLAs, and senior officials from the revenue, rural development, and employment guarantee departments, held its first meeting in Mumbai. "We will hold three rounds of discussions before delivering a concrete, actionable plan to the cabinet by September. The success of this initiative will depend greatly on the support and cooperation of MLAs," Bawankule said after the meeting. One of the strongest appeals came from MLA Abhimanyu Pawar, who urged punitive measures against individuals blocking road construction despite overwhelming community support. "If 90% of farmers agree to a road project, it should not be stalled by 10% opposition. The cost of construction should be recovered from such objectors, and if necessary, action taken under Section 353," Pawar said. Rural development minister Jaykumar Gore supported the call for incorporating such provisions into law. Funding emerged as a central concern during discussions. MLA Satyajit Deshmukh proposed creating a separate budget head for these projects and exploring resources from the Employment Guarantee Scheme and District Planning Committees. Officials suggested that a clear and sustained funding stream would be essential to ensure uninterrupted execution. Settlement commissioner for land records Suhas Diwase proposed that all rural access roads be formally documented in the 7/12 land records, with boundaries clearly defined and survey numbers assigned. He also suggested vesting ownership with the revenue department to prevent encroachment and streamline maintenance. To improve efficiency, MLA Hemant Patil recommended that project execution powers be shifted from gram panchayats to tehsildars, ensuring faster decision-making. He also called for a minimum road width of six metres and year-round usability standards. Employment guarantee minister Bharat Gogawale described the plan as "critical for empowering farmers and improving rural livelihoods," while minister of state for finance and planning Ashish Jaiswal suggested completing implementation within two years. MLAs Mahesh Shinde, Anil Patil, Randhir Savarkar, Sumit Wankhede and MLC Parinay Fuke also put forward key inputs aimed at strengthening the framework before it is presented to the cabinet next month.

Penal action suggested for obstructers of farm, village access roads
Penal action suggested for obstructers of farm, village access roads

Indian Express

time4 days ago

  • Politics
  • Indian Express

Penal action suggested for obstructers of farm, village access roads

A comprehensive plan to strengthen farm and village access roads across the state will be prepared by September end, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule announced on Wednesday. At least three meetings of a study group comprising officials from the Revenue, Rural Development, and Employment Guarantee Scheme departments will take place to finalise the details. Bawankule said, 'The committee will conduct three meetings and present a final report to the cabinet by September end. The responsibility of making this plan successful lies significantly with the MLAs.' The committee members suggested imposing penalties on those obstructing construction of roads to ensure effective implementation. The first meeting of the committee, formed to devise a comprehensive plan to strengthen farm and village access roads, was held on Wednesday at Mantralaya under Bawankule's chairmanship. Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore, Employment Guarantee and Horticulture Minister Bharat Gogawale, Minister of State for Finance and Planning Ashish Jaiswal, along with committee member MLAs and senior officials from various departments, were present at the meeting. Usually, despite 90% of farmers agreeing, roads are not constructed due to opposition from just 10% of individuals. MLA Abhimanyu Pawar demanded that penal action be taken against such obstructers, with the cost of road construction recovered from them and, if necessary, action under Section 353. Rural Development Minister Jaykumar Gore also emphasised the need for legal provisions to address those obstructing roads. Given that funding had been a major issue for this plan, MLA Satyajit Deshmukh suggested creating a separate budget head. Explore the possibility of securing funds through the Employment Guarantee Scheme and the District Planning Committee (DPDC) was also suggested. Settlement Commissioner of Land Records Suhas Diwase suggested documenting all roads in the 7/12 land records, define their boundaries, and assign survey numbers, as village access roads will be a boon for rural areas. It was also proposed that ownership of these roads should remain with the Revenue Department. It was also suggested that village access roads should be at least six metres wide and usable year-round. MLA Hemant Patil suggested that the authority for these works be given to tehsildars instead of gram panchayats to expedite progress. Employment Guarantee Scheme Minister Bharat Gogawale stated that this plan was crucial in empowering farmers, while Minister of State Ashish Jaiswal proposed the goal of completing the plan's implementation within two years.

Court acquits fruit vendor of assault and obstruction, imposes fine for abusive language
Court acquits fruit vendor of assault and obstruction, imposes fine for abusive language

Time of India

time06-06-2025

  • Time of India

Court acquits fruit vendor of assault and obstruction, imposes fine for abusive language

Hyderabad: A local court in Hyderabad acquitted a fruit vendor who had been accused of assaulting traffic police and obstructing their work during a footpath clearance drive in Erragadda, an area under the jurisdiction of the SR Nagar police station, in 2017. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now However, the court found the vendor guilty of using abusive language against the police and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000. The accused was initially booked under Section 353 IPC following a complaint from an official of SR Nagar police station, which pertains to assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from the discharge of their duty. However, during the trial, the court found that the prosecution had failed to provide sufficient evidence to sustain the charge. Notably, the police claimed that the entire incident had been captured on a body-worn camera, yet they failed to produce the footage during the proceedings. Furthermore, while the FIR alleged that the vendor had assaulted and obstructed the police officers, the officers' statements during the trial omitted any mention of obstruction. "Though the accused was booked under Section 353 IPC, the traffic police did not mention this in their evidence to the court during the trial. Therefore, the ingredients under Section 353 IPC do not apply," the court ruled. Upon examining the available evidence, the court concluded that only the charge under Section 294B of the IPC—pertaining to obscene language—was proven. Taking a lenient view, the judge imposed a fine of 2,000 rupees, considering the accused's plea that the prolonged legal proceedings had caused him mental distress.

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