Navi Mumbai: Farmers’ Protest in Panvel: Hunger Strike Enters Sixth Day, Protesters Temporarily Block Goa-Mumbai Highway

Panvel, 12th December 2023: The ongoing hunger strike by project-affected farmers in Panvel has entered its sixth day, with no visible response from the Maharashtra State Government. Frustrated by the lack of attention, the protesters, including a significant number of women, resorted to a symbolic road blockade on the Goa-Mumbai highway for 15 minutes on Monday afternoon.

Balaram Patil, former MLA of Peasants and Workers Party of India, shared that officials from the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) board engaged in discussions with the protestors. The CIDCO officials conveyed their commitment to holding further discussions on the matter after December 23. However, expressing their dissatisfaction with the delayed response, the protestors plan to escalate their efforts.

In an attempt to draw attention to their cause, a delegation of farmers intends to meet opposition leaders at the Nagpur conference on Tuesday. The farmers aim to convey the urgency of their situation and seek support from political leaders.

Former MLA Patil expressed the protesters’ frustration, citing the lack of acknowledgement from authorities despite six days of continuous protest. The hunger strike, located along the Goa-Mumbai highway in front of Turmale Gawaj in Panvel taluka, has become a focal point for the project-affected farmers, demanding a resolution to their grievances.

While the road blockade was initiated around 2 PM on Monday, the farmers cooperated with the police to lift the blockade after 15 minutes, allowing the resumption of traffic flow. Assistant Commissioner of Police Ashok Rajput and a significant police presence were deployed to manage the situation.