Over 200 farmers challenge widening of State Highway 39 in High Court

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court comprising Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice Hiten Venegavkar has issued notices to the Revenue and Public Works Department secretaries, the district collector, sub-divisional officer, and the Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (Mumbai) in connection with a petition filed by over 200 farmers from Gangapur and Kannad tehsils against the alleged illegal widening of State Highway No. 39 between Devgaon Rangari (Kannad tehsil) and Kaygaon (Gangapur tehsil). The next hearing on the petition is scheduled for February 24.

The widening work on this stretch, which began in January–February last year, is being carried out by the administration through a contractor, expanding the road to about 70–80 feet on both sides. Farmers from both tehsils claim that their land is being taken for this purpose without any formal land acquisition process or compensation. Despite raising objections, submitting petitions, and requesting justice, the administration has allegedly not taken any action or provided clarity on proposed land acquisition.

The farmers allege that the widening is being carried out illegally and have urged the High Court to intervene to protect their rights.

Farmers’ petition

The petitioners—Jagannath Khedkar, Sheshrao Salunke, Pratap Narode, Sandeep Rajput, Manoj Patil, Gulabrao Shejul, Anil Karhale, Bhimrao Jadhav, Sheshrao Mhaske, and other farmers from Devgaon (Kannad) and villages including Mali Wadgaon, Vairagad, Harsul, Shiregaon, Shekta, Shillegav, Butte Wadgaon, Siddhnath Wadgaon Malunja, Tandulwadi, Gangapur, and Kaygaon—filed the petition through Advocate Devidas R. Shelke. Advocate S B Narwade represented the government.