Latest news with #ShaktipeethHighwayVirodhiSangharshSamiti
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers protest in Kolhapur demanding loan waiver and cancellation of Shaktipeeth expressway
Kolhapur: In another protest against the Shaktipeeth Expressway, members of the Sanyukta Kisan Morcha, Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti, and Bhumi Adhikar Andolan called for its cancellation and a farm loan waiver on Wednesday. Protesters also demanded for the annulment of the unfair India-US trade agreement, in addition to many other demands. When protesters tried burning an an effigy of USA president Donald Trump during the agitation, a scuffle broke out between the police and them. State secretary of Maharashtra Rajya Kisan Sabha Girish Fonde said: "The capitalists of the country and the international capitalists have now formed an alliance to loot Indian farmers. Due to the India-US trade agreement, farmers will have to flee the country. Farmers' land is being taken away through projects like the Shaktipeeth Expressway. The Swaminathan Commission and the Minimum Support Price have not been implemented. Farmer suicides are increasing. By opposing the action to burn the effigy of Donald Trump, govt has shown that the real father of Indian govt is Donald Trump." Slogans like "Cancel the Shaktipeeth Expressway project," "Cancel India-US trade agreement," "The Minimum Support Price Act must be passed," and "Waive the loan of farmers" were also raised on Wednesday. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Take a spoonful on an empty stomach and watch the fat go down the drain gofitlifeguide Click Here Undo Farmer Babasaheb Deokar said: "Farmer suicides have risen during this govt. Farmers will respond to this in unity. Attacks by wild animals on ordinary citizens, farmers, tribals and crops have increased. Govt is destroying forests for mineral wealth in collaboration with industrialists. Farmers and tribals who have been attacked are not being compensated." Protester Sagar Kondekar added: "The National Cooperative Policy 2025 has been brought with the intention of destroying the collective ownership of farmers and the public, and handing over farmers' assets to industrialists. This needs to be withdrawn immediately. Until the govt implements the Minimum Support Price Act and loan waiver for farmers, farmers will protest. If govt does not comply, we will expel the govt. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
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!
Time of India
30-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Highway blockade today to protest against Shaktipeeth
Kolhapur: The state is bracing for traffic disruptions as the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti — supported by INDIA Bloc parties and the Retired Govt Employees and Teachers Association — will stage a highway block protest across 12 districts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The agitation, coinciding with Maharashtra Agriculture Day, aims to bring highway traffic to a standstill in Wardha, Yavatmal, Hingoli, Nanded, Parbhani, Beed, Latur, Dharashiv, Solapur, Sangli, Kolhapur, and Sindhudurg. The protest stems from the state cabinet's recent approval of a substantial Rs20,787 crore to fast-track the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway (High Speed Expressway) project. This project seeks to connect Pawanar (Wardha district) in eastern Maharashtra to Patra Devi (Sindhudurg district) on the Maharashtra-Goa border. Highway authorities have already started land mapping and surveys for acquisition, reportedly under police protection, which has fuelled opposition from farmers. This swift action, despite farmer objections, has directly led to the call for the highway blockade. Farmers' leader and former MP Raju Shetti has issued a stern warning to political representatives and sugar mill owners in Kolhapur and Sangli districts. He urged them to publicly clarify their position on the Shaktipeeth Highway, stating that "time will not forgive them" if they fail to do so. Shetti, while speaking to the reporters on Monday, said, "If you are true, then you don't have to fear the govt. This highway is being created only to make a scam worth Rs50,000 crore. The people's representatives of Kolhapur and Sangli districts, and especially the sugar millers, should clarify their stance against Shaktipeeth; otherwise, time will not forgive them." Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In Kolhapur district, the Pune-Bengaluru National Highway will be blocked at the Panchaganga Bridge in Shiroli. In Sangli district, the protest will be held at Ankali Phata on the Nagpur-Ratnagiri National Highway. Meanwhile, the police department has planned traffic diversions to avoid inconvenience to the commuters due to the protest. Inspector Nandkumar More of the city traffic branch, while talking to TOI, said, "All vehicles moving towards Pune from Kagal side will be diverted from Ujlaiwadi bridge and will proceed via Shahu Toll Naka, Tararani Chowk, SP Office Chowk, Kasba Bawda, Shiye Phata, and then towards Pune." He added, "The same road will be used for vehicles arriving from Pune to move towards Kagal and Karnataka side. The traffic diversions will be in place from Tuesday 8am until the protest ends."
Time of India
25-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Farmers from Sangli district lie on ground to oppose land mapping for Shaktipeeth
Kolhapur: Farmers from Atpadi tehsil's Shetphale village in Sangli district protested against highway officials conducting land surveys for the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway by lying on the ground amid heavy police presence. Their key demand was that compensation criteria for land acquisition should be announced before the survey proceeded. The revenue department sent notices to the farmers on Tuesday, a day before the land mapping survey, informing them about the survey for the Shaktipeeth Highway land acquisition. From Shetphale village, more than 40 hectares of land owned by 429 farmers will be acquired for this project. When the land survey officials arrived on Wednesday, farmers strongly opposed the survey despite the heavy police presence. Atpadi tehsildar Sagar Dhawale and inspector Vinay Bahir were also present at the spot. One of the land survey officials said, "A land mapping survey for the Shaktipeeth Highway will be held between June 25 and Aug 10 in the 19 villages from four tehsils in Sangli district. This is a time-bound programme as instructed by state govt. This survey will be conducted in Atpadi, Kavathe Mahankal, Tasgaon and Miraj tehsils in Sangli district in the presence of the police force." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The discontent among farmers has increased as the administration started the survey without announcing the compensation criteria for the project-affected farmers. Satish Sakhalkar, an activist from the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti from Sangli district, said, "Farmers in Sangli district will not allow such authoritarian tendencies to continue. The Shaktipeeth Highway will cause huge losses to farmers, agriculture and the environment. The risk of major floods in the villages around Sangli will increase. Many future generations of farmers will be affected. The highway should be cancelled. We are ready to fight a battle against govt for our demand." On Tuesday, the state cabinet meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis approved a provision of Rs 20,787 crore to accelerate the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway (High-Speed Expressway) project of 802.6km that will connect 12 districts of the state and create a religious tourism circuit by connecting the Shaktipeeths. Kolhapur: Farmers from Atpadi tehsil's Shetphale village in Sangli district protested against highway officials conducting land surveys for the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway by lying on the ground amid heavy police presence. Their key demand was that compensation criteria for land acquisition should be announced before the survey proceeded. The revenue department sent notices to the farmers on Tuesday, a day before the land mapping survey, informing them about the survey for the Shaktipeeth Highway land acquisition. From Shetphale village, more than 40 hectares of land owned by 429 farmers will be acquired for this project. When the land survey officials arrived on Wednesday, farmers strongly opposed the survey despite the heavy police presence. Atpadi tehsildar Sagar Dhawale and inspector Vinay Bahir were also present at the spot. One of the land survey officials said, "A land mapping survey for the Shaktipeeth Highway will be held between June 25 and Aug 10 in the 19 villages from four tehsils in Sangli district. This is a time-bound programme as instructed by state govt. This survey will be conducted in Atpadi, Kavathe Mahankal, Tasgaon and Miraj tehsils in Sangli district in the presence of the police force." The discontent among farmers has increased as the administration started the survey without announcing the compensation criteria for the project-affected farmers. Satish Sakhalkar, an activist from the Shaktipeeth Highway Virodhi Sangharsh Samiti from Sangli district, said, "Farmers in Sangli district will not allow such authoritarian tendencies to continue. The Shaktipeeth Highway will cause huge losses to farmers, agriculture and the environment. The risk of major floods in the villages around Sangli will increase. Many future generations of farmers will be affected. The highway should be cancelled. We are ready to fight a battle against govt for our demand." On Tuesday, the state cabinet meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis approved a provision of Rs 20,787 crore to accelerate the Maharashtra Shaktipeeth Highway (High-Speed Expressway) project of 802.6km that will connect 12 districts of the state and create a religious tourism circuit by connecting the Shaktipeeths.
