Even as the Maharasthra State budget has provided for an airport in Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan’s hometown of Karad in Satara district, more than 4,000 farmers from the region are opposing it. While land acquisition for the project is yet to begin, farmers have warned of an agitation on August 2, demanding that the plan be scrapped.
In March this year, the State budget allocated Rs. 438 crore for six airport projects across the State, including the expansion of the Karad airstrip into a full fledged airport.
Farmer leader Ashok Thorat stated that five villages — Warunje, Kese, Padali, Gote and Munde — would be affected by the expansion. “A lift irrigation project benefiting 3,200 acres will be affected by the expansion of the airstrip. Warunje will be completely displaced and 3,000 people will be affected.”
