Shaktipeeth Expressway: Opposition opposes project; CM responds

The Opposition in the Maharashtra legislative council on Wednesday urged the state government not to impose the proposed NagpurGoa Shaktipeeth Expressway on farmers but CM Devendra Fadnavis said that the project would bring a positive change in peoples lives reported the PTIThe issue was discussed in the Upper House of the state legislature during which the opposition members cited objections raised by farmers in Kolhapur and Sangli districts in Maharashtra over acquisition of their farmlands for the proposed project according to the PTIThe Shaktipeeth Expressway a 802kilometre route proposes to connect Nagpur to Goa while linking various pilgrimage sites across MaharashtraFarmers concerns over land acquisition remain a key issue in its implementationLeader of Opposition in the House Ambadas Danve said We took part in a protest over the project by farmers Former chief minister had announced that the government would not carry out the project amid opposition So we need clarity on this stand as per the PTIDanve was referring to a protest held in Mumbai by farmers affected by the proposed expressway projectResponding to it CM Fadnavis said The governments position is clear We aim to construct roadsbut not impose itCM Fadnavis said that several farmers along with Congress MLC Satej Patil and NCP MLA and minister Hasan Mushrif had met him at the Kolhapur airport and submitted a statement signed by several farmers but none opposed itThe Shaktipeeth Expressway is expected to positively impact five districts in Marathwada CM Fadnavis saidFarmers want this route It is not mere stubbornness Just as the Samruddhi Expressway changed the lives across 12 districts this expressway will also bring change he asserted as per the PTICM Fadnavis noted that larger events are planned to promote the projectIn villages where meetings were held farmers contributed funds he saidThe chief minister urged opposition members to assist the government in its land acquisition efforts stating that compensation offered to farmers was five times its actual valueCongress Satej Patil said The chief minister has presented his views clearly While the Shaktipeeth route will connect Nagpur and Ratnagiri an existing road already serves this purposePeople in Solapur and Sangli had provided land for similar projects he saidPatil asked the CM to meet farmers who had gathered to express their concerns about the projectThose who have given permission are being mentioned but they were initially opposed to the project The route should be reconsidered the Congress MLC saidDuring the farmers protest over the project held at the Azad Maidan in south Mumbai Danve said The project that is being carried out without taking into consideration peoples feelings is of no use the news agency reportedOn the occasion Danve played a video clip of Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shindes statement he made when he was the state CM in which he had said that the government would cancel the project if people dont want itI took stock of the Shaktipeeth Expressways route alignment and found that the NandedTuljapur Mahur Nanded Nagpur Mahur roads are in extremely good condition If required the existing roads can be expanded by adding another lane The government has nothing to do with the sentiments of people but it is concerned with the sentiments of contractors the Shiv Sena UBT leader alleged the PTI reportedwith PTI inputs