The villagers were critical of forces that were levelling allegations against the project, including violation of environmental norms.
Villagers from 14 hamlets near Lavasa lake City on Monday staged a protest against attempts being made to defame the project. The villagers gathered in front of Ambedkar statue near the Pune district collectorate on Monday.
They were critical of forces that were levelling allegations against the project, including violation of environmental norms.
Members of the Mose Khore Nagrik Vikas Sangh, a body of villagers from Mose valley, submitted a petition to the resident deputy collector, stating that the villagers were happy with the project and the manner in which the displaced villagers were rehabilitated.
“The allegations made against Lavasa are false. It is being made to look like all villages in Mose valley are against Lavasa, which is not true,” said the organisation’s president, Laxman Pasalkar.
He said 350 villagers are working on the project and at least 600 families are depending on it for livelihood. “If the Lavasa project has violated environmental norms then the government can impose fines, but they should not stop the project. Most of the villagers don’t have any option for livelihood,” he added.
The villagers said the company paid a good price for their land and provided them with homes, drinking water and education and health facilities.
A villager, Madhav Pasalkar of Aadmal village said, “I was working at Nanded City in Pune and was earning Rs6,000 per month. But when the Lavasa project started I was getting Rs8,000 per month and was working as a contractor. But when the project stopped I don’t know where I should go as don’t have an option.”
Another villager, Sunil Jadhav of Palse village said, “I was working as an electrician in Lavasa. For last three months I am not earning money. If this project stops, how can we survive?” As many as 200 villagers and sarpanchs of different villages participated in the protest.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}