Farmers to lose land over Kalyan-Nirmal Highway four lane extension

About hundred farmers received notices as the land acquisition department has started the procedure to acquire land for the ambitious four-lane development of Kalyan-Nirmal National Highway. A public meeting would be held by the village grampanchayat to give a nod to the land surveyor before the acquisition.

The national highway 222(old number) connects from Kalyan towards Telangana. The state government had approved the development of the four-lane vehicular extension keeping in mind the movement of heavy vehicles which has led to congestion and accidents on the stretch near villages of Kamba, Pavshepada, Vagherpada. The new national highway passing through villages connecting Nirmal will lead to farmers losing their land.

"The notices have been received and we are yet to decide upon the approval and we expect that the government would strike a fair deal before acquiring the land and would not harass the poor farmers whose land will be acquired", said a local resident from the village Kamba.

Balaram Bhoir, sarpanch, Kamba village, said, "We believe that the farmers who have received the notices should take a call whether they want to allow the government to acquire their lands or they want to retain their land."

"We have sent notices to 107 farmers and we expect that a fair decision would be taken in the public hearing. As of now, the farmers have shown a positive response," said a senior engineer from land acquisition department, Thane.