Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Negotiations on land acquisition rates for the proposed Aarapur MIDC, 21 km from Waluj MIDC, will be held only after joint measurement of land in three villages Aarapur, Sultanabad and Gawali Shivara. The decision was taken at a meeting on Friday. With no plots available in Waluj MIDC and rising demand from entrepreneurs, the government has proposed a new MIDC at Aarapur. Around 762 hectares including 9 hectares of government land and the remaining private land from the three villages is proposed for acquisition. Farmers have opposed the project, though the government remains firm. A meeting chaired by MLA Prashant Bamb was held at Aarapur Kaman. In-charge district collector Sambhaji Adkune, SDO Dr Arun Jarhad, MIDC regional officer Vaishali Gite, land measurement officer Aref Pathan, land survey officer S.C. Shrikhandey and ZP member Santosh Jadhav were present. Farmers raised concerns over compensation rates, rehabilitation policy, valuation of irrigated and non-irrigated land, fruit-bearing trees, cattle sheds and farmhouses. Some reiterated their refusal to part with land. Bamb urged farmers to permit joint measurement first, assuring that rate negotiations would follow. The two-hour meeting, attended by 300–400 farmers, concluded at 8 pm.