Shiv Sena launches agitations against Jaitapur nuke power plant, Navi Mumbai international airport

MUMBAI: Buoyed by its success in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the Shiv Sena has launched fresh agitations in Maharashtra ahead of the assembly elections to capitalise on public anger against forcible land acquisition for mega projects such as the Rs 1.2 lakh crore Jaitapur nuclear power plant and the Rs 14,000 crore Navi Mumbai international airport.

The agitations may further delay the two projects which have already got a clearance from the Union environment ministry.

The Shiv Sena will oppose all projects that are being built against local people’s wishes, said party chief Uddhav Thackeray. “We launched an agitation against the Jaitapur power project last year and hundreds of our people were arrested. The land acquisition there has happened forcibly. In Konkan, people have voted against ruling parties because they were against Jaitapur project. Now people’s wishes must be respected. We will continue our fight against the project,” he said.

Konkan region in Maharashtra seems to be fast turning its back on the Congress and its senior leaders like Narayan Rane, and backing the Shiv Sena. Another major project in the region’s Raigad district is Navi Mumbai international airport, for which more than 291 hectares of land is yet to be acquired.

The Shiv Sena has sensed an opportunity in backing the demand of the local farmers, who are asking for higher returns if their land is being taken away. The party is lending its support to a major rally being held in Konkan region’s Nate village on Wednesday by social organisation Janahakka Samiti, which has been running a campaign against the nuclear project.

Janahakka Samiti’s leader Vaishali Patil told ET, “We have organised a rally in Nate village where thousands will gather on Wednesday to protest against the Jaitapur project. These people voted for the Shiv Sena in a big way in the Lok Sabha elections in the hope that the party will support them and continue with its opposition to the project.”