Latest news with #Shaktipeeth
The Hindu
10-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Farmers to hoist tricolour in fields on Independence Day to protest Shaktipeeth Expressway
Farmers from 12 districts in Maharashtra will hoist the national flag in their fields on Independence Day as part of a unique protest against the proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway, which they claim will destroy fertile agricultural land. The campaign for the August 15 protest will carry the slogan 'The tricolour flutters in our field; Shaktipeeth has no place in our farmland,' sending a strong message to the State Government, Congress MLC Satej Patil said. The decision was taken at an online meeting of the Shaktipeeth Expressway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti on Saturday (August 9, 2025), attended by farmers and public representatives from the affected districts, he said. Also read: Shaktipeeth Expressway sparks Statewide protests, political outcry in Maharashtra The Maharashtra cabinet in June this year approved the allocation of ₹20,787 crore for the ambitious 'Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Expressway,' which will pass through 12 districts, linking eastern Maharashtra with southern Konkan. The 802-km expressway is expected to cut the travel time between Nagpur and Goa from current 18 hours to eight hours, as per officials. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will implement the project, and HUDCO has sanctioned a loan of ₹12,000 crore for the acquisition of nearly 7,500 hectares of land, the officials earlier said. The expressway aims to link all 'Shaktipeeths' in the state and develop rural areas through tourism and connectivity, they added. The high-speed corridor will pass through the districts of Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur and Sindhudurg. Mr. Patil said the protest move symbolises farmers' demand for 'freedom' from the project. He alleged the expressway's cost had risen from ₹86,000 crore to ₹1.06 lakh crore and urged the government to instead focus on road construction in underdeveloped areas and loan waivers for farmers. Farmer leader and former MP Raju Shetti said the protest was aimed at 'freeing the land' at a time when cultivable area in the country is shrinking. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vinayak Raut claimed the expressway would benefit only contractors and politicians, while MLA Kailas Patil took a swipe at the chief minister, saying the project may be a 'dream' or 'cream' for him. The meeting also resolved to pass anti-expressway resolutions in gram sabhas on August 15 and to launch a signature campaign in villages, former MLA Ruturaj Patil said. He said the campaign would begin in 10 villages of Kolhapur South constituency in the coming days. The protest is part of a wider agitation, with farmers from the affected areas also expected to join the August 13 nationwide protest called by the Samyukt Kisan Morcha at Bindu Chowk in Kolhapur, Satej Patil said.
Time of India
24-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Gram sabha bans govt employees from entering Budhgaon village for Shaktipeeth project survey
Kolhapur: The gram sabha of Budhgaon village in Sangli's Miraj tehsil on Wednesday passed a resolution to bar govt employees from entering the village to conduct land surveys for the Shaktipeeth Expressway project. The meeting, organized by the Shaktipeeth Highway Badhit Shetkari Bachao Samiti, drew a significant turnout of farmers from the village. The land survey in the tehsil would start on Friday. Sarpanch Vaishali Vikram Patil said, "We passed a resolution in this regard in the gram sabha. All the farmers in the village are against the Shaktipeeth project. If govt employees come for the land survey, legal action will be taken against them." Mahesh Kharade, Sangli district president of Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana, said, "Why is this highway being built parallel to the Nagpur-Ratnagiri national highway? A total of 27,000 acres of land will be acquired for the project, leaving several farmers landless and destroying the eco-sensitive zone in Kolhapur district. As per the gram sabha resolution, govt employees will not be allowed entry into the village. " Umesh Deshmukh, an activist from Shaktipeeth Highway Badhit Shetkari Bachao Samiti, said, "Forty-eight bridges will be built on the proposed highway. A 15km bridge will be built from Budhgaon to Danoli in Sangli district, which will pass via Karnala-Padmale-Sangliwadi. There is a fear that all villages, including those in Sangli, will be flooded due the bridge during heavy rain. The project is being undertaken for the benefit of contractors. " In Sangli district, 776 hectares of land will be acquired for the Shaktipeeth Expressway project from 18 villages. Of the 776 hectares, the land survey has been completed in 152 hectares.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- 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
16-07-2025
- 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. "
