In a bid to intensify their longstanding protest for government jobs and rehabilitation, farmers affected by the Pavana Dam project are set to embark on an indefinite strike starting Monday, December 11. Adding to the gravity of the situation, the Pavana Dharangrasta Kruti Samiti (PDKS) has issued a stern warning, threatening to disrupt Pimpri-Chinchwad’s water supply sourced from the Pavana Dam.
Despite multiple meetings between the district administration and the affected farmers, a resolution to the protracted issue remains elusive. The scheduled Friday meeting between Pune District Deputy Collector Ajay More and PDKS members has now been rescheduled for Monday.
Undeterred by the pending discussions, the farmers are determined to proceed with their strike, with the district administration expressing its willingness to convene a meeting during the demonstration if necessary.
The Pavana Dam, constructed in 1972, led to the acquisition of approximately 5,926 acres of land, impacting a total of 19 villages. The affected farmers assert that, besides rehabilitation, the administration had committed to providing government employment to one member from each affected family.
As the situation unfolds, tensions rise between the protesting farmers and the authorities, bringing attention to the longstanding grievances and unmet promises in the aftermath of the Pavana Dam project.