Farmers move Bombay HC against super E-way

Mumbai: A group of farmers from Nashik district have approached the Bombay high court against the Maharashtra government’s decision to acquire land for Samruddhi Nagpur-Mumbai super expressway. According to the petitioners, they are opposing the government’s move to acquire land as it is contrary to the provisions of right to fair compensation and transparency in the Land acquisition, rehabilitation and resettlement Act. The farmers have also claimed that the proposed Samruddhi expressway passes through cultivated/agriculture land and its soil is very fertile and suitable for growing cereals and pulses.

The petition also claimed that the land acquired is predominantly used for agriculture and about 84 per cent length of the proposed expressway passes through it. “There is need for diversion of the Expressway to avoid destruction of cultivable lands. It is also be contrary to the provisions of the law, a special reason is needed to justify its acquisition. The authority has to examine all the options before opting to acquire the agriculture land,” said the petition.