Nashik Farmers Rally Against Ring Road Land Acquisition Ahead of Kumbh Mela
In a significant development, farmers from nearly 25 villages in the Nashik district convened a meeting with Collector Ayush Prasad on Friday. The gathering was organized to urgently request his intervention in mitigating the substantial potential losses they face due to the impending acquisition of their agricultural land. This land is earmarked for the construction of a proposed ring road around Nashik city, a project accelerated in preparation for the upcoming Kumbh Mela.
Project Scope and Farmer Opposition
The ambitious infrastructure project, spearheaded by the Maharashtra State Industrial Development Corporation (MSIDC) with funding from the Central government, aims to create a 66-kilometer peripheral route. This ring road is designed to seamlessly connect all six major highways originating from Nashik, thereby enabling through-traffic to bypass the city center entirely and alleviate congestion. However, this vision requires the acquisition of approximately 512 hectares of land, a prospect that has sparked strong opposition from the local farming community.
Farmers have voiced profound concerns, stating that the acquisition process threatens their primary means of livelihood with limited alternative options available. The emotional and economic stakes are exceptionally high, as many families depend entirely on their land for sustenance and income.
Specific Grievances and Alignment Disputes
During the meeting, several farmers raised pointed objections regarding the proposed alignment of the ring road. They argued that while two potential alignments were previously discussed, the finalized route appears to deliberately avoid commercially developed plots, instead cutting through vast swathes of fertile agricultural land. This has led to accusations of unfair targeting of farmland over other properties.
One distressed farmer highlighted a personal tragedy, fearing the alignment would slice directly through the home he constructed just two years ago. "I have no objection to surrendering six of my seven acres for the project, but the thought of losing my dream home is utterly heartbreaking, regardless of any monetary compensation offered," he expressed emotionally.
Representatives from Govardhan village presented another critical issue, warning that the planned four-lane road would effectively bisect their village into two separate halves. They urgently appealed to authorities to reconsider and shift the route to prevent such severe social and community disruption. Furthermore, another group of farmers demanded that the compensation rates be revised to match those declared for the similar Pune ring road project, ensuring fairness and adequacy.
Administrative Response and Path Forward
Collector Ayush Prasad, after attentively listening to the multitude of concerns, acknowledged the inherent difficulty in satisfying every affected farmer. He provided assurances, however, that officials would promptly visit the impacted sites to conduct thorough, on-ground studies of the issues raised. The goal is to work collaboratively toward practical and equitable solutions.
"Having dealt with similar land acquisition challenges in the past, I deeply understand the distress and anxiety farmers experience when their land is taken. We are committed to addressing the most critical concerns, though it may not be feasible to please everyone. What we fundamentally need now is the cooperation and constructive engagement of the farming community," Collector Prasad stated.
In a concrete step forward, the district administration has announced plans to deploy dedicated teams to the concerned villages. These teams will facilitate detailed discussions with farmers, aiming to strengthen communication channels and collaboratively work toward a balanced, mutually acceptable outcome that respects both developmental needs and farmer welfare.
