Nasrapur, 9th July 2023: The villagers of Shivre in Bhor taluka took to the Pune-Satara highway today to stage a protest against the modified plan for the ring road. The villagers demanded that land acquisition should not be allowed in Shivre village and voiced their discontent with the new plan.
A significant number of villagers participated in the protest, which eventually came to a temporary halt after assurances from a police officer and the Bhor Tehsildar that a definite solution would be found.
The original plan for the ring road, which involved utilizing approximately 223 acres of horticultural land in Shivre village, has been replaced by a new notification. The villagers are advocating for the implementation of the original plan and opposing the potential destruction of their entire village.
Despite the presence of various political office bearers, government officials, leaders, and ministers in the region over the past few days, the villagers felt that their demands were being overlooked. This led them to organize the protest on the highway, causing significant traffic congestion in both directions. Police intervention was necessary to clear the road and disperse the protestors.
During the demonstration, notable figures including the Shivre Sarpanch Amrita Gaikwad, Upsarpanch Yogesh Dalvi, former Upsarpanch Mauli Dimble, and other villagers expressed their concerns about the new road structure and the potential acquisition of horticultural land. The presence of women among the protestors was particularly significant.
Mauli Dimble, the former Sarpanch, warned that if their protest did not receive the attention it deserved, they would stage a more forceful demonstration in front of the collector’s office. Krishna Dimble emphasized that land in Shivre village had already been acquired for other purposes and the acquisition of such a large area for the ring road would essentially lead to the disappearance of the village.
Representatives from the administration, including National Highway Authority Officer Ram Lathad, Bhor Tehsildar Sachin Patil, and police officers, were present at the scene. Tehsildar Sachin Patil addressed the crowd and mentioned that a meeting had already taken place between the villagers and officials from the Highway Authority and the MSRDC. He assured the villagers that a meeting with senior officers would be organized to work towards a resolution.
The villagers suspended their protest for the time being as they were assured that a solution would be found regarding the land acquisition in the village. However, they issued a warning that they would protest in front of the District Collector’s office if their demands were not addressed. The villagers remain determined to protect their village and seek justice in the matter of the modified ring road plan.
