Stone mafia grind down farmland

Quarry operators encroaching upon agricultural land to excavate stones

Stone mafia grind down farmland

Quarry operators encroaching upon agricultural land to excavate stones

Land losers: Sambhaji with his father Daulat Netke who's farm land at Rajgurunagar has been encroahed upon.

A five-acre farm in Davdi village near Rajgurunagar, 40 km from the city, has been allegedly encroached upon by brothers Gangaram and Dhanaji Gavhane.

The owner of the farm, Daulat Ravji Netke, said: "This illegal business has been continuing for the past five years and nobody has taken any action against the Gavhane brothers till date."

Netke had received the land from the state government in 1971, as he falls under the scheduled caste category and is a landless farmer.

The Gavhane brothers allegedly threatened Netke with dire consequences if he went to the police. Almost two acres of his land is allegedly being used by the Gavhane brothers for excavating stones. "They earn money out of it and the whole business is being carried out with the 'blessings' of some government officers," alleged the 69-year-old farmer.

Netke's son Sambhaji said that there was a procedure to be followed for stone quarrying and the government had not given any such permission to the Gavhane brothers. "Nor do they pay royalty to the government for using the stones for construction purpose," he said. "Despite the illegal activities on our land, the local tehsil office is not taking any legal action against the Gavhanes."

Netke had formally met Pratap Dighavkar, rural superintendent, Pune and narrated the entire episode to him. "We are expecting a call from him, but so far nothing has happened," he said.

Police Inspector S S More from Rajgurunagar police station said that to prevent further excavation of stones, the local tehsildar office had confiscated a truck and two dumpers from the quarry site on Netke's field. "We have been given instructions by the tehsil officer and the vehicles are now on the police station premises. We are waiting for further orders from our seniors," he said.

"Exciting news! Mid-day is now on WhatsApp Channels