Pune-Bangalore Expressway: Several highway projects are currently underway in Maharashtra and across the country, while others are awaiting initiation. The necessary procedures have been initiated for proposed highways, including land acquisition processes in many locations. However, certain highways have faced opposition from farmers regarding compensation, leading to a halt in the land acquisition process. Similar challenges have emerged in the land acquisition processes for the Pune to Bangalore Green Highway and Surat to Chennai Green Highway.
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Presently, the land acquisition process has commenced in Sangli district for the Pune-Bangalore Expressway. However, farmers are demanding compensation of Rs 1 crore per acre, displaying their discontent. A similar situation has arisen in the land acquisition process for the Surat to Chennai highway. This highway traverses through Dakshin Solapur and Akkalkot talukas in Solapur district, and farmers in these areas have also voiced their concerns about inadequate compensation. In an effort to find a resolution, a meeting was recently held in Mumbai, chaired by the Chief Minister.
During the meeting, it was proposed to offer four times the ready reckoner rate for the land. However, prior to finalizing the compensation rates, Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has suggested engaging with a delegation of farmers to determine the ready reckoner rates in collaboration with the District Collectors. It is important to note that the same notification will also be applicable to landowners in Sangli, Satara, and Pune districts. Considering the absence of land transactions due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the past three years, deciding the ready reckoner rates poses a significant challenge. In response, farmers have taken a firm stance, refusing to part with their land for the highway until fair prices are announced. They will now engage in discussions with the District Collector to establish a fair assessment.
Therefore, the issue of ready reckoner rates for land acquisition along this highway is expected to be contentious. Farmers affected by the Surat-Chennai highway are also grappling with similar concerns.