Outer ring road-affected farmers protest outside Bhujbal residence, seek realignment & better compensation

Nashik: Farmers affected by the proposed outer ring road project in Nashik staged a sit-in protest outside the residence of state cabinet minister Chhagan Bhujbal on Wednesday, demanding a realignment of the road and better compensation.A large number of farmers, along with their families, gathered near Bhujbal Farm under the banner of a ‘justice’ agitation, urging govt to address their concerns in a fair and transparent manner. Bhujbal was, however, not present during the protest as he was in Delhi for a meeting related to the onion issue. In his absence, a delegation of farmers held discussions with his aides.The delegation pressed state govt to honour assurances made during a recent meeting held in the presence of district collector Ayush Prasad.

Karan Gaikar, who led the protest, said the farmers demanded that Bhujbal personally convene a joint meeting with district officials and stakeholders to resolve the issues.The protesters insisted that no farmer should be rendered landless due to the project. They also demanded protection for homes, wells, cattle sheds and agricultural land during execution of the work. The farmers further urged that the road alignment be finalised along the lines of Development Plan (DP) roads to minimise damage to farmland.

Until a final decision is taken, the farmers demanded that govt refrain from issuing land acquisition notices or proceeding with land purchases. They also called on senior ministers from the district, including Girish Mahajan, Chhagan Bhujbal, Dada Bhuse and Narhari Zirwal, to take a collective decision in favour of the farmers, saying the final call on alignment alternatives rested at the ministerial level.Farmers from nearly 25 villages participated in the protest and warned of intensifying their agitation if their demands were are not met.Meanwhile, Bhujbal, in a press statement, reiterated that Mahayuti govt was committed to ensuring that farmers did not suffer losses due to development projects. “In the case of the Nashik outer ring road, the administration is maintaining dialogue with farmers. The government is positive about addressing their demands and is committed to ensuring that no farmer faces injustice,” he stated in the statement.