Sanjana Khandare
- Palghar district is Smouldering… With projects like the Bullet Train, Expressway, Vadhvan Port, and now the vision of a ‘Fourth Mumbai,’ development is accelerating but it is also giving rise to several fundamental challenges. BaiManus has launched a special series to take a closer look at this issue.
- The Mumbai- Vadodara Expressway is now almost complete, and traffic is expected to begin soon.
- For the Adivasi communities here, coming to terms with the reality that their land was taken through deception has not been easy. Many now feel that they had already lost the battle against the system even before it actually began. What remains today is a limited hope, fair compensation and land for collective rehabilitation.
The Mumbai- Vadodara Expressway is now on the verge of completion. In a few months, vehicles will start running on this road, and it will be seen as yet another big step in the name of development. but if you step aside from the highway, you begin to hear not one, but many heartbreaking stories. Stories of lost land, broken homes, and Adivasi families pushed into an uncertain future.
The expressway has not just reduced distances, rather it has changed the direction of life for many families in Talasari, Dahanu, and nearby parts of Palghar. After losing land that was protected for generations, questions around compensation, rehabilitation, and their future still remain unanswered. this becomes clear after speaking to farmers, women, youth, and local representatives who have been affected. The gap between the development shown on paper and its actual impact on the ground and on the lives of Adivasi communities is something the government has not fully tried to understand.
For Adivasi families here, land is not just a piece of property. it is their main source of livelihood. Their lives depend on farming, seasonal work, livestock, and their connection with the forest. In such a situation, when a project line cuts through the middle of their fields, it is no longer just about land. it becomes a question of their future and survival.
Many years have passed, but even today, Adivasi families here are unable to accept the reality that their land was taken through deception. most of them now feel that they had already lost the battle against the government even before it truly began. What remains today is a limited hope of better compensation for their land and land for collective rehabilitation.
The Mumbai -Vadodara Expressway. how does a project like this, carried out in the name of development, actually look on the ground? How transparent is the compensation process? What impact is it having on the environment? And most importantly, how much are local voices really being heard? This ground report by BaiManus tries to find answers to these questions.
Protests sparked in Palghar over the Mumbai - Vadodara Expressway Project
The BJP -led central government began acquiring land for the 379 km long, eight lane expressway passing through Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli. Since land acquisition for the Mumbai -Vadodara Expressway started in Palghar district, protests by local Adivasi communities and farmers have been ongoing since 2017-18.
With over 1,000 hectares of land being acquired from around 71 villages across Dahanu, Talasari, Vasai, Palghar, and Wada talukas, many villages passed resolutions in their Gram Sabhas opposing the land acquisition. this resistance took the form of protests, marches against the administration, road blockades, and efforts to stop survey work.
(Tribals opposing the expressway project)
In 2018 and 2019, thousands of Adivasis, farmers, and chikoo growers marched to the Palghar Collector’s office. In some villages, locals opposed the survey by removing field markings and denied entry to survey teams. Several allegations have been raised in terms inadequate compensation, corruption through middlemen, and in some cases, compensation being given to someone other than the actual landowner. Against this backdrop, in 2022, a major clash took place between Adivasi families and the police during a protest in Dhaniwari- Ibhadpada villages of Dahanu taluka.
The protesters made their demand clear. “Compensation first, then Land Acquisition.” This incident once again brought the issue of land acquisition in Palghar into the spotlight across the state. This struggle, which has been ongoing for several years, has become increasingly complex. In the beginning, everyone stood together in opposition to the project. But over time, divisions emerged on the basis of different demands. Initially, people were against the project itself. Later, they came together to demand fair compensation for their land. And eventually, the focus shifted to ensuring proper rehabilitation for all affected families, including those in Nimbavali.
Kawada: A village devastated in the name of the Mumbai - Vadodara Expressway
The Mumbai -Vadodara Expressway passes through Kawada village in Talasari taluka of Palghar district. Out of the seven hamlets in the village, four have been directly affected by the project. The impact is visible. land acquisition, displacement of homes, relocation of the cremation ground, and families losing their wells and sheds. Village Sarpanch Darshana Vijay Bodale says,
Out of the seven hamlets, the highway has passed through four. Many people still haven’t received compensation for their land. Initially, less land was shown, and later more was taken. Our ancestral land was shown under the government’s name, even though it has been in our possession for generations. According to her, many families in the village are uneducated, and procedures like getting their names recorded on land documents were not completed in time. The land was in our possession, and we were the ones farming it. But since our names are not on paper, today we have to keep visiting tehsil and collector offices to get our compensation.
(Darshan Vijay Bodle – Kawada Gram Panchayat Sarpanch) Image Credit- Komal Thombre
We got money for the trees, but not for the Land
Deputy Sarpanch of Kawada, Vijay Bhika Ladka, says,
We have been cultivating this land for generations. We received some money for the trees and a small amount for our house. But we still haven’t received compensation for the land. We have taken out several protests to demand our rights. The highway work is almost complete. only a few signboards and minor work are left. But even as the project is near completion, many questions still remain unanswered.
During the highway construction, two cremation grounds in the village were demolished. Although the administration has provided an alternative site, locals say it is inadequate. the Sarpanch alleges,
The new cremation ground has very limited space for last rites. Even after a year, it cannot be properly used. Despite repeated requests, basic work like land levelling and facilities have not been provided.
Four local sheds, along with some solar pumps and wells, have also been affected by the project. According to villagers, proper alternative arrangements are still not in place.
Locals say that a resolution was passed in the Gram Sabha opposing the expressway. A drone survey was carried out in 2012, notices were issued in 2014, and work picked up pace in 2020 - 21. “We protested, but police forces were brought in and we were pushed aside. Even women were handled forcefully,” villagers allege. While some have also accused the authorities of physical assault.
A notice of just Rs.51
The story of Laxman Umbarsahala from Kawada highlights the gaps in the entire land acquisition process. He says,
My land is gone, my trees are gone, my house is gone. And in return, I received a notice of just Rs. 51 from the government. I should have received at least Rs3-4 lakh for my land. But in the name of compensation, I was given a notice of only Rs.51.
He further adds,
When I go to the office for appropriate compensation, I am told to ‘prepare a file and submit documents.’ Preparing that file itself costs me Rs. 2,000- 3,000. I have already lost everything. my house, my land, my trees. In such a situation, where am I supposed to bring that kind of money from?
According to Umbarsahala, even though his family has proof of house tax records, it is not being accepted. he says,
They ask us for proof of our land. Whatever documents we have, they don’t accept them. So we keep running from one place to another
This is the same Laxman Umbarshala who received a notice of only Rs 51. Image Credit- Komal Thombre
Locals say that receiving a notice of just Rs. 51 is not an isolated incident, but an example of the confusion and gaps in the land acquisition process. Rajesh Madvi from the same village shares a similar experience.
My land is gone. I had two houses. The survey was done, but I still haven’t received any notice. When I go to the office, they ask for old documents. Even though my name is on the 7/12 record, no action is taken. Now the big question is, what should we do, and where do we seek justice?
This highway is not for us…
The Mumbai - Vadodara Expressway is a greenfield highway project connecting the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat. Spanning over 500 km, its aim is to reduce distance and travel time between two major economic centres of the country.
The expressway is also linked to the Delhi- Mumbai Industrial Corridor, making it important from an industrial and commercial point of view. The key objectives behind the project include boosting industrial investment, easing goods transportation, and accelerating regional development. According to the administration, this highway will significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Ahmedabad and speed up economic activity. It is also expected to generate employment and expand infrastructure.
Villagers of Kawada village who did not receive proper compensation for their farming. Image Credit- Komal Thombre
According to locals, this project is of little use in their daily lives. “It is difficult for us even to access trains. We don’t own two- wheelers. how will we ever afford four wheelers? This highway is for the rich,” some villagers say openly. As the population in the village increases, the available residential land remains limited. Many farmers, after losing their land, now fear of becoming homeless. “We don’t have any land left to build a house elsewhere,” is another concern raised by the villagers.
Development or displacement? - CPM MLA Vinod Nikole
Local CPM MLA Vinod Nikole has raised serious questions about the idea of “development” in the context of the Mumbai -Vadodara Expressway project. According to him,
We are not against development. But it is being carried out without the consent of local people and without proper rehabilitation. Due to the expressway, land belonging to thousands of farmers has been acquired. Many Adivasi families are facing problems in getting compensation because their names are not recorded on land documents. At the same time, large-scale tree cutting has disturbed the environmental balance. I raise these issues everywhere, but the administration does not want to understand the ground reality of Palghar. Their focus is only on bringing big projects and building a ‘Fourth Mumbai’ here. We are not against development but if this development comes at the cost of Palghar’s destruction, then we will oppose it.
Court’s stance on the expressway Project
Local farmers and Adivasi communities filed petitions at various levels opposing the land acquisition process for the Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway project. Some of these cases also reached the Bombay High Court. The key issues raised included inadequate compensation, errors in land ownership records, and lack of proper rehabilitation. While hearing these petitions, the court refused to stay the project. However, it directed the administration to carry out the land acquisition process transparently, as per the 2013 law, and to ensure fair compensation and proper rehabilitation for affected families.
In some cases, locals also alleged the involvement of middlemen and corruption in the process. Taking note of these complaints, the court instructed the authorities to examine each case carefully and take appropriate action. Overall, while allowing the project to move forward, the court made it clear that protecting local rights, ensuring fair compensation, and maintaining transparency are the responsibility of the administration.
This express highway is now ready. However, the tribals have not yet received compensation for the land. Image Credit- Komal Thombre
Impact of the project on the environment
The Mumbai-Vadodara Expressway and the Bullet Train Project have had a serious impact on the environment. Hundreds of hectares of trees have been cut, affecting local biodiversity. Birds and wildlife have lost their natural habitats. Due to land filling and concretisation, natural water flow has been disturbed. Increased traffic has led to rising dust and noise pollution, affecting the health of local residents.
This also raises a larger question, who is actually benefiting from this development? Are these projects serving only industrial and urban growth, while leaving local communities behind? As farmers, Adivasi families, and Local Communities continue to face the impact in their daily lives. When will clear answers be given on compensation, rehabilitation, and environmental protection?
(Sanjana Khandare is a mentee at the Climate Change Media Hub of the Asian College of Journalism. The program is supported by Interlink Academy, Germany.)
(This story is produced under Project Dharitri, a joint undertaking by Asar and Baimanus on Climate Change & Gender reporting.)
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