Kolhapur: Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde announced that state govt will not acquire “even an inch of land” from farmers of 550 villages in Satara district where the proposal is being planned to develop the New Mahabaleshwar Hill Station.Addressing the concluding ceremony of a tourist festival in Patan on Monday, Shinde also appealed to farmers to not sell their land, stating that it would soon as bring “gold” to them. He said people have started coming in large numbers around Kandati valley after the development of the bridges and water sports facilities started there. Shinde further announced that in Dec-Jan 2026-27, a mega tourist festival will be organized in the backwaters of Koyna dam.The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) has currently prepared a development plan for the New Mahabaleshwar Hill Station. A report of suggestions and objections to the DP has been submitted and the project is awaiting final approval from the state cabinet.Shinde said on Monday, “Mahabaleshwar is the ‘Kant-Mani’ of Maharashtra’s tourism. The highest number of foreign nationals visit the hill station every year. It was established by Britishers, and now we are going to develop ‘New Mahabaleshwar’ as the existing one is getting congested and tourists wants to explore the region, feel the fresh air. I assure farmers that not a single inch of land will be taken away from them while developing the new hill station. I also appeal to farmers not to sell their land to anyone. It will bring them ‘gold’. I ask elected representatives to visit 550 villages and convince them how the new Mahabaleshwar project is going to benefit the residents.”The deputy CM said that while in 2022, 15 lakh foreign tourists visited Maharashtra, the count has gone up to 37 lakh now. Overall tourist footfall in Maharashtra has increased from 11 crore to 18 crore in the same period. “It is the success of our tourism policy. Under the new Mahabaleshwar project, eco-friendly development of 550 villages will take place. It is going to change the economy of the region. Funds will be provided for home-stays, bread-and-breakfast facilities, agro-tourism, etc.,” Shinde added.
