Agitation by farmers in Maharashtra, which was recently subdued with the government announcing farm loan waiver to the tune of Rs 30,000 crore, has resurfaced in Kalyan city of Thane district.
This time though, the farmers are protesting against what they term as forcible land acquisition for a proposed international airport on the outskirts of Mumbai. The protesting farmers blocked the Thane-Badlapur highway, pelted stones and burnt tyres on the road, claiming that their land was illegally acquired by the Ministry of Defence.
A statement by the Indian Navy, however, claimed that the land belonged to them and that they were erecting a boundary wall to secure the periphery.
"Land in reference is owned by Ministry of Defence/ Indian Navy and the State Govt land records certify the same. The 7/12 extracts are held with Defence Estate Officer, Mumbai. The land was acquired by Ministry of Defence. The Navy is constructing a peripheral boundary wall to protect and safeguard Defence land from further encroachment," said Commander Rahul Sinha, Chief Public Relations Officer (Defence), Mumbai.
"The Maharashtra state govt is fully aware of the subject case and is providing police protection and support from state/ district administration and revenue authorities," he added.
The protesting farmers also set ablaze three to police vehicles and assaulted around 12 policemen.
Additional forces, including riot control police have been rushed to the spot to control the situation.
Further details are awaited.
The farmers had been protesting a proposal to take over an abandoned airstrip for constructing an airport at Nevali, around 40 km north-east of Mumbai.
The government wants to develop it as the state’s third international airport and had begun the process of acquiring land for it. Many locals whose land was taken now want it back.
