Nashik: The pre-construction activity has begun in parts of Igatpuri and Sinnar talukas from where the Nagpur-Mumbai super communication expressway will pass.The district administration has acquired 89.38% land for the work in the two talukas. The area has been divided into three sections. In two sections, over 90% land has been acquired and handed over to the construction companies, who have started levelling and grubbing work.“We have begun our activities in Igatpuri taluka, where the land acquired by the district administration has been handed over to us. At this point, we have started the work of levelling the soil and at the same time hired the land for construction purpose,” a senior officer from Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) said.The entire stretch of road passing through Ahmednagar and Nashik districts is 101.48 km. The stretch has been divided into three packages by the developing authority. The first is a 45.9-km stretch from Pathre in Ahmednagar to Sonar (Sinnar taluka) in Nashik district, another package is from Sonari to Taranganpada stretched across 45.39 km and the third is the 10.28 km from Taranganpada to Borli.“Of the three packages, the MSRDC now has more than 90% of the area under its control in two packages. There are few land parcels that are still in the process of acquisition. All the people who have shown their willingness or given consent have been given payments, but those who have still not given their consent, the MSRDC will deposit their share of payments with the court and take position of the land,” the officer said, adding, “Technically, the 60-day period of the land acquisition is not yet over.”The construction company has set up its work depot at the Shivde village. Meanwhile, the farmers from region have alleged that the construction work was affecting their farms.“We have our farms nearby. The dust rising from the areas settles on the farms affecting the grape and custard apple. We have requested the company to shift its base as this would kill our plants,” said Sunil Wagh, a local famer.Raosaheb Harak and Uttam Harak have similar complaints. They have even gotten a resolution from gram sabha in favour of shifting the company’s base away from the village. “We have cash crops in the village. The dust has already started settling on the crops. Besides, the roads in the vicinity are not meant for heavy vehicles. They will destroy the atmosphere here,” Raoshaheb Harak said.The MSRDC officers, however, said they were yet to receive any complaint on the issue and would pay due attention to any requests from the farmers in the areas.

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