Elderly man killed by dumper in Maval; villagers block road at Talegaon MIDC, 29 plants ordered shut

Heavy vehicles are running recklessly in Mangrul, Ambi, Golewadi, Navlakh Umbre and the Talegaon MIDC area of Maval taluka. With accidents occurring repeatedly there, the safety of residents has become a serious concern. Within barely a week, two senior citizens were killed in dumper collisions, and villagers' anger spilled over. They took to the Talegaon MIDC road and staged a road blockade. Taking serious note of it, Collector Jitendra Dudi has directed that 23 stone crushers and 6 ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants in the area be shut.

According to the information available, a speeding dumper hit Natha Govind Potwade (65) in the Shetevasti area on the Mangrul-Navlakh Umbre road on Tuesday, October 27. He died on the spot. Earlier, on October 22, Nanibai Sopan Nakhate (75), an elderly woman, had also died after being hit by a similar dumper.

The deaths of two elderly people in a week caused intense resentment in the area. Villagers angrily asked why, after an accident, police only draw up panchnamas, but no firm control is imposed on the deadly speed of these heavy vehicles and on their movement.

A large number of stone crushers and ready-mix concrete (RMC) projects are operating in Ambi, Mangrul-Navlakh Umbre, Ambale, Shire-Shetewadi and Kadamwadi. Hundreds of heavy vehicles carrying gravel and construction material from these projects ply day and night. This has greatly increased the risk of accidents. Dust has also worsened the problems of public health and pollution.

Fed up with all this, villagers began a road blockade on the Talegaon MIDC road under the leadership of Shantaram Kadam, Deva Gaikwad, Nivrutti Shete and Namdev Bhase. The protesters firmly demanded that the 23 stone crushers and 6 RMC plants in the area be shut permanently.

Realising that the agitation had turned aggressive and the situation was serious, Assistant Commissioner of Police Vitthal Kubde contacted Collector Jitendra Dudi directly from the spot on his mobile phone.

Collector Dudi spoke directly to the protesting villagers over a video call. He said he had instructed the owners concerned to keep the 23 stone crushers and 6 RMC plants in Ambi, Mangrul-Navlakh Umbre, Ambale, Shire-Shetewadi and the surrounding areas closed. Naib Tahsildar Ganesh Talekar assured that official written orders would be issued within the next two days, and that a separate meeting would be held with the villagers to find a permanent solution to their problems.

Following the incident, Vijayanand Patil, Police Inspector at Talegaon MIDC police station, said action has been taken against 4 heavy vehicles that were responsible for the accidents and had violated rules. He also said a joint team of the revenue department and the police administration would henceforth take continuous, strict action against illegal heavy transport on this route.