Farm activists allege forceful land buy for industrial project in Maharashtra

Mumbai: Farm activists on Monday alleged that agriculture land is being forcefully acquired in Maharashtra for the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) and said they will launch an indefinite fast from tomorrow to demand redressal of their grievances.

Members of the Corridor Virodhi Shetkari Sangharsh Samiti, a resistance group comprising farmers and their representatives who are opposing the project, said the state machinery was involved in "forceful" acquisition of land.

Ulka Mahajan, a social activist working for farmer welfare, said they have sought Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis' intervention into the matter.

"There have been many instances of the violation of the land acquisition Act, 2013. Despite assurances given by the Union government, farmers are being forced to part with their land for Dighi Port Industrial Area project (which is part of DMIC)) in Raigad district of Maharashtra," she said.

Addressing a press conference here, Mahajan said over 78 villages, which house almost 75,000 people, in the district are being forced to give away their land by the government officials.
She also alleged large-scale corruption by revenue department officials in disbursement of compensation to farmers.

"I, along with six affected farmers, will sit on an indefinite fast from tomorrow in Raigad district demanding that the state government form a committee to look into our concerns," Mahajan said.
DMIC is a proposed industrial development project between the country's national capital and its financial hub.

It is one of the world's largest infrastructure projects which includes 24 industrial regions, eight smart cities, two airports, five power plants, two mass rapid transit systems and an equal number of logistical hubs.

Mahajan said she has written a letter to Fadnavis demanding immediate halt to acquisition of land from farmers who have not given their consent for the same.