NHSRCL gets more farm land for bullet train project
In Maharashtra, as many as 60 hectares of private plots shall be acquired for the project.
Mumbai: While there has been resistance to the bullet train among Maharashtra’s farmers, the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) claims that it has now been receiving more approval letters from affected people at Palghar for land acquisition. From Vasai, 30 approval letters have been received, while eight farmers have already given up their land for the project.
The NHSRCL was determined to complete the land acquisition process by March this year according to officials however prolonged resistance from farmers stalled multiple deadlines till now. Officials further stated that they had been getting resistance primarily from Dahanu and Talsari talukas.
“We have acquired at least 17 private plots admeasuring 3 hectares till now and around 10 hectares of government-owned plots for the project. These have been acquired in Thane, Bhiwandi and Palghar,” said a senior official from NHSRCL.
In Maharashtra, as many as 60 hectares of private plots shall be acquired for the project. “We have been talking to the local farmers in Thane district, where many have stated that they do not have any objection. We are trying to convince the Palghar farmers and will be providing good compensation,” he added.
The Asian Age had earlier reported that forest land equivalent to more than 200 football fields would be lost to the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train, since as many as 131.3 hectares of forest chunk was slated to be used for the ambitious project. A major part of the land is from Thane, Bhiwandi and Palghar district areas which also includes mangrove areas.