Frustrated by years of heavy vehicle traffic and government inaction, villagers of Durshet in Pen taluka staged a dramatic Jalsamadhi (water immersion) protest on Wednesday, demanding a halt to illegal minor mineral transportation and the creation of a safe, alternative road for quarry trucks.
For the past two years, residents of Durshet have raised concerns about the constant movement of overloaded trucks linked to nearby stone quarries. Despite repeated complaints to the administration, they say their pleas were ignored, forcing them to escalate their protest.
Last month, villagers organized a rasta roko protest at Durshet Phata. The Pen Tehsildar had then accepted all demands, including the construction of an alternative route, and issued notices to quarry owners. However, even after a month, no work had begun on the proposed road.
Durshet Residents Launch Jalsamadhi Protest Against Quarry Truck Menace | File Photo
Tensions escalated further when quarry owners allegedly began filling the Balganga River with slag waste from JSW, without consulting locals raising fears of flooding in the already flood-prone area. The villagers claim no preventive action was taken by the revenue department or tehsildar, leading to distrust and anger.
Villagers gathered in large numbers and began the Jalsamadhi protest, warning of intensified action if their demands were not met.
Responding to the protest, Sub-Divisional Officer (SDO) Pravin Pawar visited the site and assured protestors that a meeting would be held at the SDO office on Tuesday, July 22, to address their grievances.
He also assured that all heavy vehicle movement on the Durshet route would be suspended until then. Following this assurance, villagers agreed to temporarily call off the agitation.
The protest received support from several political leaders and social activists including Santosh Thakur, Dr. Vaishali Patil, Prasad Bhoir (UBATHA Raigad District Head), Sandeep Thakur (MNS Raigad Vice President), Devidas Patil, Mohini Gore, Mahesh Patil, Raju Patil, Rajesh Rasal, Sachin Patil, and Mansi Patil, along with hundreds of local residents.
