Gadchiroli, March 30 (District Correspondent) Mr. Vijay Wadettiwar, Leader of the Congress Legislative Party, has declared that the Congress Party will soon launch district wide agitation to protest against the forcible acquisition of the fertile land of the farmers in the name of industrial development of the district.
Addressing a press conference at the Circuit house here this afternoon, Wadettiwar levelled a serious allegation that a conspiracy is underway in the district to swallow farmers’ fertile lands for the benefit of some industrialists, and that leaders associated with the ruling BJP are complicit in this process. He warned the district administration and the state government that not a single inch of land would be allowed to be acquired without the consent of the farmers.
Wadettiwar clarified that 70 percent of Gadchiroli district is covered by forests. With only 30 percent of the land available for agriculture and human habitation, fertile land across 14 villages in Chamorshi taluka is currently being acquired. In the near future, another 33 villages are set to be drawn into this process, potentially leading to the abandonment of approximately 50 villages and rendering thousands of farmers landless, he said.
Farmers are being offered a mere Rs. 5 to 8.5 lakh per acre for land acquired for the MIDC, a compensation rate that is extremely meagre, he pointed out.
We are not opposed to industries; industries should be opened, and development should take place. However, instead of seizing farmers’ fertile lands, these industries should be established on barren or fallow lands,” Wadettiwar asserted. He also punctured the claim that the arrival of industries in the district automatically translates into job creation. He raised a pertinent question- “How many jobs did the industries established here previously actually provide to the locals? Why is it that locals are left with nothing but the task of ‘digging mines’?
Wadettiwar further alleged that the transportation of iron ore has claimed the lives of over 200 innocent citizens in the district, yet the relatives of the deceased have not received any form of compensation or assistance. He also accused authorities of attempting to undermine the indigenous culture of the tribal communities by acquiring their lands on a lease basis.
MLA Ramdas Masram, Congress District President Mahendra Brahmanwade, Youth Congress National Secretary Vishwajeet Kowase, Adv. Ram Meshram, Manohar Patil Poreti, Vasant Raut, and numerous other office-bearers were present in large numbers at this press conference.
