Pune: The Maharashtra government has selected several villages in Purandar taluka for an upcoming airport project, but the decision has sparked intense opposition from local residents. The affected villages, including Vanpuri, Udachiwadi, Pargaon, Kumbharvalan, Ekhatpur, Khanvadi, and Munjawadi, are voicing their concerns over the potential displacement, loss of employment, and the threat of outsiders gaining control of their ancestral lands.
Villagers are particularly concerned that the airport project will force them to leave their homes without adequate support for resettlement. They also fear the potential rise in criminal activities and the marginalization of local residents as the project moves forward. To express their objections, the villagers have been holding daily meetings to strategize their opposition.
A large-scale protest was organized in Vanpuri during the Padwa festival, with the active participation of key community members such as Rajendra Gaikwad, former Sarpanch Ramdas Bharkar, and local leaders P.S. Memaane, Chetan Memaane, and many others. During the protest, women leaders like Lanhubai Kumbharkar and Reshma Khedekar delivered a strong message, declaring their determination to resist the project. “We will shut down our homes and join the fight against this project. We are not afraid of police batons. The government must recognize that we are the rightful owners of this land, and we are dedicated to protecting our heritage,” they asserted.
Despite the government’s continued push for the project, local resistance remains unwavering. The villagers have vowed to continue their fight, insisting they will not allow the airport to be built on their ancestral lands under any circumstances. As more residents join the movement, the opposition to the project is gaining momentum.
