VALPOI
Protesting locals of Shel-Melauli in Guleli are likely to intensify their agitation on Wednesday if the government fails to withdraw cases against the locals and does not hand back the land allotted to the IIT project.
The State government had filed cases against 40 protesters after clashes had erupted between police and locals during land survey work for the IIT project. Faced with mounting opposition across Sattari, the government later scrapped the IIT project at Shel-Melauli but had not withdrawn the cases against the locals.
The villagers had demanded a written reply in this regard at the gram sabha and also submitted a memorandum to the panchayat on December 9.
The panchayat had clarified that a decision in the matter would be taken at the gram sabha on December 12, but the issue was not taken up in the meeting as the sarpanch and all members, except Arjun Melekar, were absent from the gram sabha.
The unhappy villagers demanded that the gram sabha be reconvened on December 20, but except for Melekar, the sarpanch and other panch members were absent from the gram sabha held on December 20.
The enraged villagers then decided to begin an agitation on Monday to push for two demands -- the immediate withdrawal of all charges against the protesters and the prompt return of land allotted to the IIT project by the government.
The residents continued their protest outside the panchayat office on Tuesday, and with no official visiting the site, are likely to intensify their agitation on Wednesday.
Sources said the villagers have decided to prevent panchayat members from visiting the office.
There has been intense pressure on the panchas, fuelling speculations that some panchas were planning to resign from their posts.
When contacted, Sarpanch Apoorva Chari said she has not resigned as sarpanch, but admitted that she had not visited the panchayat office in the last two days.
