The Waluj Mahanagar Gairan Atikraman Bachav Kruti Samiti staged demonstrations against the decision to remove encroachment on the free pastures. The agitators staged a protest at the divisional commissionerate in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Monday.
The district collector on July 17 issued a notification to remove the encroachment on the government’s pastures across the district. Following which the encroachers have opposed the decision and the Kruti Samiti held a march on Monday.
The protest started after paying obeisance to the statue of Mahatma Phule in Aurangpura at around 2 pm and reached the divisional commissionerate.
The agitators carried blue flags and placards depicting messages and slogans against the administration. And a delegation of agitators submitted a memorandum of demands to the divisional commissioner.
According to the memorandum, the encroachment holders have been tilling the pastures for more than four decades. “The order issued on July 17 is unjust and an attempt to make the people homeless,” the protesters said.
“Hence, the order should be cancelled and the ownership rights of the people living on the lands should be retained by including the pastures in the gaothan limits. The names of these people should be included in the 7/12 extract. As per the order given by the revenue minister, the ownership rights should be given to the pasturage land holders directly,” they added.
Other demands include rehabilitation for those whose properties were demolished in the road widening drive. The encroachments should be regularized through the Ramai, Shabri and OBC Gharkul schemes, the agitators demanded.
