Farmers Rally Against Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway Land Survey

Farmers in Marathwada are protesting the land survey for the Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway, fearing loss of fertile land. The project, approved by the Maharashtra cabinet, aims to connect central and western Maharashtra to Goa, enhancing access to pilgrimage sites. Protests have disrupted traffic in the region.

Farmers across Marathwada took to the streets on Tuesday to protest against the land survey for the proposed Nagpur-Goa Shaktipeeth Expressway project. The demonstrators expressed fears of losing their vital farmland to the 802-kilometre greenfield corridor, set to connect Maharashtra's interior to Goa.

This resurgence of protests follows the Maharashtra cabinet's June 24 endorsement of land acquisition for the expressway that will traverse districts like Nanded, Hingoli, and Parbhani. Official sources noted the route aims to improve regional connectivity but has worried local agrarians, some of whom have vowed to resist losing their land.

Notably, MPs and farmers alike voiced concerns over insufficient compensation, stressing the temporary nature of financial recompense amid a dependency on farming. Despite its potential economic benefits, the expressway proposal has stoked protest actions in Beed and Dharashiv districts.

(With inputs from agencies.)