Team Herald
MOPA: Continuing with their protest against the Mopa link road on the fourth day, the affected farmers of Tulaskarwadi, Shemecha Advan, Warkhand Nagzar on Monday gheraoed the office of Warkhand-Nagzar Village Panchayat demanding the local body’s intervention to protect their forest land and livelihood from destruction.
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Morcha of women, men and senior citizens headed by President of Mopa Vimantal Pidit Xetakari Samiti Sandip Kambli in the absence of sarpanch confronted the panchayat secretary and questioned him as to why the panchyat is not initiating any action to protect their land.
The farmers said that the sarpanch has been ignoring them even after submitting a letter to the panchayat requesting to discuss the road link issue. However, the sarpanch remained absent to address the people.
“We asked the secretary if the panchayat had issued any NOC for the destruction of forest and showed the various complaints filed with the panchayat but no action has been initiated till date,” the farmers claimed.
When the farmers questioned the secretary about the ongoing work, he responded saying, “The panchayat has not received any intimation regarding the airport and link road.” He further urged the farmers to meet the sarpanch and clear their doubts.
The farmers pointed out that the destruction of forest is taking place blatantly in the panchayat jurisdiction. However, the panchayat has not initiated any action to stop the same. “The panchayat is involved in illegal sale of land in the village,” the farmers alleged.
“When a local does some construction in his own land the local body raises objection but when the work of a major project is taking place, the panchayat is quite,” Kambli said while pointing out to the secretary.
The farmers also highlighted that there is no board installed at the site providing details of the project as per the rules.
They requested the secretary to initiate action at the earliest to protect the land.
“When the destruction of forest is taking place, the Forest Department is not ready to act. We want the support of panchayat to protect the trees because the way they are being bulldozed it doesn’t seems like the government is doing it legally,” the farmers said.
“The sarpanch is ignoring us even after intimating him on our meeting in advance. The government is working haphazardly and trying to complete the project as soon as possible because it is illegal,” a farmer alleged.
Meanwhile, on the same day, a delegation of farmers also approached the National Highways Authority of India officials informing about the illegalities taking place and pointed out that the Supreme Court guidelines are not being followed and they should intervene into the same.
