Farmers surround Savner tehsil office over land for defence nuclear corridor

Farmers took to the streets against land acquisition efforts for the proposed defence nuclear corridor in Savner. A large number of farmers took out a march and surrounded the Savner tehsil office. During the siege, farmers raised slogans demanding that their land be saved.

The protesting farmers submitted a memorandum of their demands to the tehsildar and officials present at the spot. The farmers said in no uncertain terms that they were not willing to give up their farmland for the proposed project. Slogans such as "This land is ours, we will not give it up under any circumstances" and "We will not give up even an inch of land" rang out during the protest.

The farmers said farming is the sole livelihood of their families, so any decision related to the land should only be taken after proper discussion with affected farmers, the entire process should be transparent, and their demands should be heard seriously.

The farmers recorded all their objections and demands before the administration, after which officials assured them the matter would be conveyed to the government. The siege left the atmosphere at the tehsil office premises tense for some time.

Representatives and residents from eight gram panchayats across nine villages, said to be affected by the proposed corridor, took part in the protest. Each gram panchayat submitted separate representations and memorandums to the concerned officials.

Those present at the protest included Malegaon sarpanch Dharmendraji Khonde, former sarpanch Shankarraoji Mowade, Chandrakant Somkuwar, Joga sarpanch Shankarraoji Tonge, Vamanrao Mowade, former zilla parishad member Dilliprao Uike, Jaitpur-Chhatrapur gram panchayat representative Manohar Kakde, Salai's Shrikant Mohtakar, Bhavesh Wakhode, Jatomkhora sarpanch Sonu Rawsaheb, Krishnaji Pandey, Savli's Harish Mohtakar and Dilip Mohtakar, Khursapar's Nanaji Madekar, Bhushan Kubde and Mangesh Jogi, among other village representatives.

Farmer organisations said they had sent their objections and demands to the government through the administration and expected the government to look into the issues related to the project and grant them justice.

The farmer organisations also made clear that they would consider taking the agitation forward if no concrete decision was taken on their demands.