This story is from January 12, 2016

Villagers cry foul over inadequate compensation, wild boar menace

Villagers cry foul over inadequate compensation, wild boar menace

Akola: Vinayak Kawre’s fertile land was acquired for Ghungshi barrage in 2009 and he was paid a meagre compensation of Rs1.34 lakh per hectare as per old Land Acquisition Act. Shetkari Sanghatna activist Gulabrao Bhusari’s land was acquired for the project, but he has not received the project-affected persons (PAPs) certificate till date. Bhaurao Gawali from the adjoining village is fed up with menace of wild boars, which have taken refuge in the shrubs in the area earmarked for the project and destroy crops.
Right from land acquisition to inadequate compensation to damage to approach roads, the aggrieved villagers came up with a host of grievances due to ongoing Ghungshi barrage project in Murtizapur. Some of them also protested against local subdivisional officer (SDO) for allegedly harassing them by deliberately not releasing their payments. As soon as they learnt that a team of NGOs led by Jan Manch was reaching the project site on Sunday, the villagers crowded the area and were eagerly waiting for the visitors since morning.
“All villages at tail end of Katepurna dam are not getting any water even today, as it doesn’t reach the canals. Now, the canals for Ghungshi project are not passing through our villages where we stay, as the government considers that those village come under Katepurna dam. On other hand, the authorities have acquired all our fertile land for the Ghungshi project, which would be submerged under water,” Dr Amit Kawre, a dentist, told TOI, while demanding to divert canals through four villages.
Along with Gawali, another farmer Vijay Thak is also facing problems of wild boars due to the fact that project site is full of shrubs and trees, where they hide and destroy the crops at night. “All the adjoining villages are facing the problem. If water is released in the project area, the wild boars would disappear. Despite repeated complaints, both forest and VIDC officials are not taking any steps,” he said.
Vinayak Kawre and others pointed out that though their lands were acquired, they were not supplied with the information on area where the canals or pipelines would be located along with its distributaries. “We’re completely in dark about the project. We’re also not sure on whether we will be actually benefited or not.”

Digambar Jadhav and other villagers from Leit demanded enhanced compensation for their acquired land. According to them, the land was acquired in 2009 as per the old rates. Now, the compensation has been increased by four times as per new Land Acquisition Act. “We also want compensation as per new Act. Why we should be given unfair treatment, just because we haven’t protested and given our land, our livelihood, for the bigger cause,” he said.
Promising to visit again to listen to the grievances, Jan Manch president Anil Kilor and coordinator prof Sharad Patil assured the villagers to raise their demands with the Akola collector.
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