Six Palghar villages vow to resist MIDC, Essar projects; effigy of Industries Minister Uday Samant burnt

Villagers from six villages on the Saphale west coast have taken a firm stand that they will not tolerate any attempt to take their land in the name of development. They have raised their voice against the proposed MIDC and Essar projects. "Even if we are shot, we will not let this project come up on our land," the villagers declared in aggressive terms.

Villagers had gathered in large numbers at Usarni Naka. They shouted slogans loudly against the government's land acquisition policy, and the whole area echoed with them. In protest against a statement made by Industries Minister Uday Samant on land acquisition, his effigy was beaten with sticks and then burnt in front of the police. A scuffle also broke out between the protesters and the police.

The villagers have been opposing these projects for many days. But after Industries Minister Samant's statement, the pent-up discontent erupted in the form of a protest. Shouting slogans such as "Our area, our right" and "No destructive project", they showed that their resolve is firm.

"Nature has given us the means of livelihood. Why then this insistence on snatching away our land in the name of development?" the villagers asked, questioning the government's stand. The protesters also asked how families dependent on farming would feed themselves if the land was lost.

There is intense discontent among villagers over the possible acquisition of about 1,250 hectares of land in six villages of Palghar taluka: Mathane, Bhadve, Usarni, Danda, Khatali and Madhukarnagar. Of this land, about 890 hectares is said to be privately owned and 215 hectares government land. The possible acquisition has put the future of farmers, local residents and coming generations in question.

Many families in the area depend mainly on farming. Villagers have expressed fear that if land is acquired for the proposed projects, agriculture, water sources and natural resources will be seriously affected. That is why villagers in all six villages remain firm in opposing the projects.