Pune: Massive Opposition In Purandar As Locals Protest Against Airport Plans
Purandar, 2nd April 2025: The Maharashtra government has selected several villages in the Purandar taluka for an upcoming airport project, and preparations for its execution are reportedly in full swing. However, the decision has sparked widespread opposition among local residents, who fear displacement, unemployment, and an influx of outsiders taking control of their ancestral lands.
Residents of villages including Vanpuri, Udachiwadi, Pargaon, Kumbharvalan, Ekhatpur, Khanvadi, and Munjawadi have expressed strong resistance to the project. Concerns have been raised that the project will force them to leave their ancestral homes permanently, with no support for their rehabilitation. There is also apprehension about an increase in criminal activities and the marginalization of local residents in the development process.
To voice their concerns, village meetings are being held daily in different areas, where locals are strategizing their opposition. A significant protest was organized in Vanpuri during the Padwa festival, where villagers strongly condemned the government’s decision. The event saw the participation of Rajendra Gaikwad, along with key community members including former Sarpanch Ramdas Kumbharkar, P.S. Memaane, Chetan Memaane, and many other local leaders and residents.
During the protest, several women leaders, including Tanhubai Kumbharkar and Reshma Khedekar, delivered a strong message to the government. “We will shut down our homes and join the fight against this project. We are not afraid of police batons. The government must understand that we are the true owners of this land and devotees of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s warriors,” they declared.
Despite the government’s continued issuance of orders regarding the project, resistance from local communities remains steadfast. The villagers have vowed to persist in their fight, emphasizing that they will not allow the project to proceed under any circumstances. The movement is gaining momentum as more residents unite to protect their land and heritage.
