CM Devendra Fadnavis
Speaking to reporters in an informal interaction, Fadnavis said, “As far as Gadchiroli is concerned, development is happening on a large scale. Fadnavis said the committee headed by Gadchiroli collector Avishyant Panda will understand the difficulties, objections and demands of farmers, and hold detailed talks with all stakeholders. Interacting with the media, the CM said, “Whatever acquisition we have done so far, we have done through discussion and dialogue.
There are times when people also oppose land acquisition. Mahayuti govt believes in negotiations. I have just spoken to one group, and I will speak to another group too.
Nagpur: Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said the state govt would not forcibly acquire land in Gadchiroli for the proposed MIDC and steel project, and ordered a collector-led committee to resolve the concerns of protesting farmers.
The Thursday meeting with villagers came a day after farmers from 13 villages of Yenapur-Jayrampur withdrew their blockade of National Highway 353C at Ashti, after Aniruddh Palkar, officer on special duty to Fadnavis, spoke to them overnight and conveyed the chief minister’s appeal.
However, as a policy, the govt decided against such moves,” he said. Making the govt’s stand clear, Fadnavis said, “Ultimately we are doing this for benefit of people. It takes more time to reach a consensus, but we will do it,” he said.
The CM added that the govt prefers to negotiate rather than take the other option. “If we had to do it without consulting villagers, then it is very easy. I have the power. I can issue a notification, pay four times the money and move on. In fact, once I deposit the money in the court, the govt can take possession also. Hence, it is important for us to convince them and take them along. The farmers were demanding that their land be excluded from acquisition for the steel project.