They are the reluctant inheritors of wealth. Reluctant, not because they don’t want the money, but they don’t want it at the cost of one thing they cherish as much as their lives — their farm land which is under threat of being acquired for the proposed new international airport at Chakan.

Stop at Shiroli-Chandoos villages in Khed taluka of Pune district and the fear and uncertainty over the likely loss of inherited farm land and their known way of living comes across loud and clear. Unlike in some other villages, also in Khed taluka, where land is being acquired quite peacefully and with full support of the farmers for Bharat Forge’s Special Economic Zone (SEZ), snuffing out the agrarian way of living is not going to be easy here.

Bhivraj Dhavale (48), a farmer in Shiroli who along with his brothers own 15 acres, is a disturbed man. These days, he has another job. Along with other villagers, he keeps vigil at the local barber shop, on the look out for any government officer who might come down to begin the land acquisition process.

“We do not want to give up our lands and we do not want money for it,” says Dhavale while other villagers nod in agreement. Most of them grow vegetables to cater to Pune city’s demands and are happy making around Rs 10,000 a month. And with many of the youngsters going for technical education and working in nearby Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) units, bringing in extra money, their lives have never been better.

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