Kolhapur: Farmers and residents of Sangli's Walwa taluka on Saturday held a public rally at the Rajarambapu auditorium in Ishwarpur, strongly opposing the proposed Shaktipeeth highway project and warning that the resistance could force its cancellation.
Addressing the rally organised by the Sheti Bachaon Samiti and the Shaktipeeth Virodhi Kruti Samiti, former MP and farmers' leader Raju Shetti said farmers from all 13 districts, through which the highway is proposed, are voicing strong opposition. "The protest against this project is so intense that this so-called dream project of Devendra Fadnavis will remain a daydream, and will definitely be cancelled," Shetti said.
Shetti alleged that the 1 lakh crore Shaktipeeth highway is being pushed despite being unnecessary and exorbitantly priced, claiming it is aimed at enabling a financial benefit of around 70,000 crore. He further alleged that the project length has been arbitrarily increased from 802 km to 856 km, inflating the cost by 14,000 crore.
A large number of farmers from Walwa taluka and other parts of Sangli district participated in the rally. Prominent politicians present included NCP (SP) MLA Jayant Patil, former MLA Mansingrao Naik, Abhijit Patil, the district president of Shiv Sena (UBT), farmers' leader Raghunathdada Patil, Bharat Patankar, and others.
Speaking at the event, Jayant Patil said farmers across Walwa taluka had united to oppose the highway. He said villages from Masuchiwadi, on the banks of the Krishna river, to Chikurde, on the banks of the Warna river, have rejected the project.
Patil claimed Walwa, once drought-prone, had undergone an agricultural transformation over the last four decades through major investments in irrigation infrastructure.
"If Shaktipeeth passes through Walwa, embankments of 40 to 60 feet will have to be built along the Krishna and Warna rivers," Patil said. "This will pose a serious risk of flooding and could lead to salinisation of vast stretches of fertile farmland."
Farmers at the rally reiterated that they would continue their agitation until the proposed alignment through Walwa taluka is scrapped.
