Mumbai: In a major security breach at Mantralaya on Tuesday several farmers whose lands were acquired for irrigation project jumped on the safety net in the atrium in the main building to protest the dealy in action on their demands.
However there was no untoward incident and the protesters were apprehended by the police.
The project affected people of the Upper Wardha dam had been agitating at Morshi in Amarawati district since past 103 days for their various demands. Since their issues were not resolved, they decided to resort to agitation at the state secretariat. They jumped on the security net in anrium from the second floor of the main building of Mantralaya. The safety net was tied just below the second floor to prevent any such untoward incidents after a young man had committed suicide by jumping in 2018. Around 15-20 agitators jumped on the safety net while shouting slogans against the government. Aamhala Nyay Dya, Maay Baap Sarkar Nyay Dya (We want justice, Oh our lords give us justice) they shouted as they jumped on the net. They also hurled pamphlets baring their demands in air as they resorted to agitation.
The agitation led to panic in already overcrowded Mantralaya. The security guards too jumped on the security net and caught all the agitators. They were still shouting slogans. Minister Dada Bhuse successfully pacified them after much pursuation. However, they were still firm on their demands. Finally Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had to intervene.
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“The government is with you and you demands will be listened to and judiciously dealt with,” he assured the agitators after which they withdrew the agitation.
“I met the agitating farmers. Minister Dadaji Bhuse was with me. Senior officials from irrigation department too were present at the meeting. I’ve given clear instructions to the concerned officers at the meeting. One more meeting will be called in the next fortnight in this regard where amicable decision will be made regarding their demands,” CM Shinde later told the media.
The farmers had been demanding that the compensation should be paid to them along with interest; alternate land to be allotted to them should be in the benefit area of the reservoir; at least one of family members of the project affected people should be given government job and for that the reservation should be increased from 5% to 15% and if this is not possible the project affected people should be given Rs 20- Rs 25 lakhs more as additional compensation. They also demanded that the unused land should be returned to them by the irrigation department.
CM Shinde asked officials to present the complete details of the affected villages. A total of 42 villages had been affected due to the project. Several options like land for land, preparing a waiting list and additional compensation were discussed at the meeting.
CM Shinde is very positive about the demands and he has directed the officials to present a comprehensive view about the demands, said a senior official from the CMO. He also directed them to prepare a database within a week after which a meeting will be taken, he said. He also spoke to Wardha district collector immediately and directed him to gather all the information as discussed. He also directed him to keep various alternatives of the possible solutions ready with him before the meeting. Sahebrao Gidhade, Anandrao Gawande, Vinayak Kurwade, Haribhau Sathawale, Deepak patil, Praveen Satpute and Vinod Virulkar attended the meeting as the representatives of the project affected people.
Around 30 agitators from inside and outside the Mantralaya were detained by the police. A top officer of the Mumbai Police said that a case has been registered against them under Bombay Police Act 135 in connection with the agitation in the Mantralaya and further action was still being taken at the time of going to press.
