Pune: Farmers in Kadamwak Wasti (Taluka Haveli) have declared that they will not give their land for the Pune Ring Road project unless they are compensated at five times the Ready Reckoner rate.
A meeting was held at the Kadamwak Wasti Gram Panchayat ground between government officials and farmers to discuss the acquisition of land for a 65-meter-wide road under the draft development plan. The administration has proposed direct purchase under the 2015 Land Acquisition Act, but farmers have raised concerns over the offered compensation rate.
Government’s Compensation Offer Sparks Farmer Opposition
The Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority (PMRDA) has planned a 65-meter-wide Ring Road, passing through Bavadi, Lohegaon, Wagholi, Manjari Khurd, and Kadamwak Wasti. This project will require approximately 17 acres (67,581.54 sq. meters) of land from Kadamwak Wasti alone.
Government officials have offered compensation at 2.5 times the Ready Reckoner rate, arguing that the project is essential to ease traffic congestion.
"The Ring Road will provide a long-term solution to traffic bottlenecks. We urge farmers to support this development by allowing land acquisition."
— Kalyan Pandhare, Deputy Collector, Pune Land Acquisition
However, the farmers have rejected this offer, demanding that the government pay five times the Ready Reckoner rate instead.
"We are ready to give up our land, but only if we get five times the Ready Reckoner rate. If not, we will not agree to the acquisition."
— Ganpat Chavat, Farmer, Kadamwak Wasti
Some farmers claimed that their land falls within the project, but their names are missing from the acquisition list. They demanded clarity on whether they would receive compensation. Complaints were raised regarding widening works on the Pune-Solapur highway, Ring Road, and Shivar roads.