Pune: Ministers and opposition leaders have said the police department should handle the agitation by farmers in Purandar against the drone survey and land measurement with sensitivity.
BJP’s state president and Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule stated in Pune on Sunday that the lathicharge which took place on Saturday is unacceptable. He assured that if landowners have any concerns, appropriate measures will be taken to resolve them. This includes addressing demands for higher compensation, providing jobs to those affected by the project, and resolving other related issues. As the head of the state’s land acquisition department, Bawankule emphasized the importance of projects like the Purandar airport, which is crucial for the development of western Maharashtra and aims to position Pune on the international map. He said the airport will serve as a central hub for Pune’s growth.
Saturday’s protest by farmers, who will lose land to the project, turned violent during the drone survey. Eighteen policemen were injured in the stone-pelting as were several villagers in the lathicharge.
Deputy CM Ajit Pawar said he instructed officials not to act aggressively towards farmers. Minister Dattatray Bharne called the violence unfortunate and said the project will proceed only with farmers’ consent. MP Supriya Sule criticized the use of force, saying the government should have respected public sentiment. Opposition leader Ambadas Danve, after meeting farmers, stated that much of the land marked for the airport is cultivated and urged the release of arrested protesters. SP Pankaj Deshmukh said violence broke out due to a rumour about a woman’s death, leading to stone-pelting. Police responded with tear gas and a mild lathicharge. He clarified the woman died at home and was not part of the protest.
