Oppn accuses Shinde of misleading Legislative Council over Shaktipeeth highway

The opposition in Maharashtra on Saturday attacked the state government over the proposed Shaktipeeth Expressway and said Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had misled the Legislative Council on the issue reported the PTICongress MLC Satej Patil said CM Shinde had assured the corridor would not be forced on people but the state government at the same time had sent a proposal to the Centre for its approval as per the PTIThe Upper House witnessed heated arguments following which it was adjourned for 10 minutes but leaders of the opposition parties refused to budge from their standRaising the issue Satej Patil said The Shaktipeeth Expressway was planned on February 7 and declared as a state highway on February 28 this year The land acquisition notice issued on March 7 informed that 27000 acres of land will be needed for its construction The expressway will connect 17 religious places in the state according to the PTIThe design work has been given to one Monark company that did similar work for the NagpurMumbai Samruddhi Expressway which is in a mess with technical faults Is the state government now imposing the same company with a new highway project he asked adding sarcastically that officials who identified so much land and flyovers for this highway should be given some award for such efficiency the news agency reported on SaturdaySatej Patil claimed there is no demand for such a highway from the people but the state government is keen to build itIs it because some construction company has paid a hefty amount through electoral bonds Why are certain companies getting such redcarpet treatment Patil asked in the Maharashtra Legislative CouncilReplying on the issue PWD minister Dada Bhuse said CM Shinde has already assured the people that this project will not be forced on them If there are any queries the government will hold a meeting and address it as per the PTIThe answer however did not satisfy the opposition with Patil stating that Bhuse was not saying if the project would be cancelledThe Maharashtra government has sent a proposal to the Union environment ministry seeking clearance The state government should withdraw the proposal that is sent to Delhi Satej Patil saidLegislative Council deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe then intervened and asked Bhuse to hold a meeting with elected representatives and farmers 15 days after the session got over to which the minister agreedRefusing to accept the suggestion Satej Patil said This government seems to have learned no lesson after losing 11 Lok Sabha seats in the state If it is in selfdestructive mode then the Maharashtra government should go ahead and push for this project The government will pay a heavy price of it in the coming assembly pollsThe proposed 802kmlong Shaktipeeth Expressway will connect Pavnar in Wardha district in the Vidarbha region to Patradevi in the coastal Sindhudurg in Konkan The expressway will pass through 12 districts before entering neighbouring Goawith PTI inputs