Aaditya Thackeray holds meeting with Sangli farmers' body, assures 'best possible solution'

Suresh Patil, Sangli Spice and Food Park Association, with Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray, on Friday

After mid-day's report highlighting the issue, the Shiv Sena finally found time to listen to bhumiputras from Sangli. On Thursday mid-day had reported how sons of the soil from Sangli were being ignored, despite the pro-Marathi manoos government at the helm. On Friday state Environment Minister Aaditya Thackeray had a meeting with farmers and traders from Sangli who were upset with the state industries minister for ignoring their demand for preference to locals over the allotment of an MIDC plot. Immediately after the report was published, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya acted. Thackeray Jr held a meeting with representatives of the Sangli Chamber of Commerce's Sangli Spice and Food Park Association in Mumbai.

In the meeting held at Varsha (the official residence of the Chief Minister), Thackeray Jr assured of the best possible solution for the farmers and traders. Suresh Patil, Sangli Spice and Food Park Association, said "In the meeting I explained to the Shiv Sena leadership the concerns and demands of local traders and framers. After patiently hearing us and going through the documents, Aaditya Thackeray assured of looking into our demand."

The association is eyeing a 166-acre MIDC plot in Kavlapur in Sangli in order to create employment for locals and to promote and market their produce. It is seeking preference for bhumiputras in allotment of the plot. While seeking preference, the association has made it clear that it does not want any concession or discount which could lead to loss to the state treasury.

‘Govt won't lose the plot'

During the meeting, Patil even emphasised that the plot has been sought by an association and not by a business firm or individual. "There is a risk while giving a plot to a company or individual as it can be sold or further sub leased as it has happened in many cases. But giving it to an association will ensure that the end purpose of use always remains the same. The office bearers of the association might change, but not the nature of the business," Patil said, adding, "We even informed Aaditya Thackeray that the process for allotment of the land in question is to be done merely on application and no tendering process has been adopted for the same."

The Sangli Chamber of Commerce's Sangli Spice and Food Park Association wants the plot for a space to store, process, market and also prepare the produce for export

For the past two years the association, which is an NGO, had been writing to the government and MIDC (industries department, Industries Minister Subhash Desai and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray) on the same. With the Shiv Sena at the helm of affairs in the state, they were hopeful that the CM would implement the late Balasaheb Thackeray's vision of promoting the bhumiputra. But with no response to their letters, the farmers and traders were dejected and irked.

Marathi manoos is optimistic

Now, with the Shiv Sena leadership taking interest in the demand to encourage sons of the soil, the association members are optimistic of getting their demand met. Patil said, "The minister has assured the best possible solution to our problem and that too in a short span." Earlier while speaking to mid-day, Desai had said, "MIDC allots land through a tendering process. No one is bypassed. Everyone is given a fair chance. So, there is no question of ignoring locals."