PERNEM: Dhargal farmers suffered heavy losses after their cashew and mango plantations were gutted in a fire reported on Saturday.
The farmers informed that around nine lakh sq mtrs of agriculture land has been acquired by the government for the proposed Electronic City and in the remaining land the farmers had planted fruit bearing trees such as cashew, mangoes and others.
On Saturday, the concerned contractor set fire to clear the dry grass. However, the fire spread and the plantation was gutted. The farmers claimed that they had grown mangoes and cashews to earn a living and to preserve the land for next generation. They claimed that despite strong opposition, the government forcibly acquired the land. The farmers have incurred losses in lakhs of rupees.
“The contractor set fire to clear the dry grass to prepare a cricket field at the proposed Electronic City site. However, the fire raged and destroyed the cashew and mango plantation,” complained Shripad Parab, a farmer.
