PERNEM
Two days after their cashew and mango cultivations were gutted in a fire, aggrieved farmers of Dhargal have threatened to take the matter to the High Court and seek a stay on the construction of the nearby cricket ground if the government fails to look into their plight.
The farmers have blamed the contractor involved in the nearby sports project for the fire.
According to locals, farmland of about 9 lakh square metres has been acquired by the State government to build a sports village in Dhargal and the nearby area is being used by farmers to grow cashews and mangoes.
The farmers claimed that on Friday, a contractor lit a fire to clear grass and bushes at the proposed site when the fire went out of control and destroyed their crops.
Speaking on behalf of other aggrieved farmers, Shripad Parab said despite their opposition, Deputy Chief Minister and Sports Minister Babu Ajgaonkar had got the government to acquire 9.3 lakh square metres of land to build a sports village.
“The case is still in High Court and even though the sports village project never took place, they are building a cricket ground instead. The work has just started and so we farmers will attempt to bring a stay on the project,” he said.
He said the farmers have not accepted compensation for the acquired land, adding that of the 9 lakh square metres acquired, 1.5 lakh square metres has been given for an Ayush hospital.
“When farmers went to the HC at that time, union minister Shripad Naik and then chief minister late Manohar Parrikar had discussed the issue with the farmers and had assured to leave out their farming land.”
“The court is yet to give its final verdict and we are confident that it will grant a stay on the project,” Parab added.
“Since the acquired land cannot be given back, late Parrikar had worked out a scheme to give the land to farmers on a 99-year lease at cheaper rates.
“We are not against the proposed Ayush hospital, but we object to the acquisition of land under the pretext of a sports village and then setting up other projects on the land,” said Parab.
