Pargaon Villagers Unite Against Purandar Airport Project, Pass Resolution in Gram Sabha

Pune, March 22: In a significant development, the villagers of Pargaon in Purandar Taluka have formally opposed the proposed Purandar International Airport project. During a gram sabha meeting held on Friday, a resolution was passed to reject the acquisition of their land for the project, with approximately 150 villagers supporting the decision.

The special gram sabha was convened following a notice issued by the village sarpanch and gramsevak on Monday. The meeting took place at the Bhairavnath Sabha Mandap, located in front of the gram panchayat office, under the chairmanship of the sarpanch at 9 a.m. on March 21.

The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) is overseeing the land acquisition process for the proposed airport, which requires 2,753 hectares across seven villages—Vanpuri, Kumbharvalan, Udachiwadi, Ekhatpur, Khanavdi, Munjavadi and Pargaon. With a government notification now in place, the acquisition process is expected to gain momentum.

According to officials, the detailed project report (DPR) for the airport is scheduled for completion by September 2025. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed MIDC to expedite the land acquisition process to meet the government’s target of making the airport operational by March 2029.

Despite the state’s push for the project, opposition from villagers remains strong, raising concerns about displacement and land rights. The resolution passed by Pargaon villagers signals potential challenges for the proposed infrastructure development.