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At post Manche, tal: Devgad dist:, Maharashtra, India, Sindhudurg Photograph: (akshay tari_Unsplash)
State-backed land agreement advances long-pending Taj development
A review meeting was held at the government residence Meghdoot in Mumbai under the chairmanship of Shambhuraj Desai, Minister for Tourism, to accelerate the Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL – Taj Group) tourism project at Shiroda–Velaghar in Sindhudurg district.
The meeting was attended by Nitesh Rane, Minister of State for Fisheries and Ports; Deepak Kesarkar, MLA from Sawantwadi; Sanjay Khandare, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism; Neelesh Ramesh Gatne, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation; Vijay Powar, Deputy Secretary and Joint Director, Directorate of Tourism; officials from IHCL; and local villagers. The District Collector of Sindhudurg joined the meeting via video conference.
The project involves approximately 52.63 hectares of land acquired at Shiroda–Velaghar. The land acquisition process had faced delays due to concerns over compensation for local farmers. To address these concerns, the state government has granted in-principle approval for a special compensation package. The process of signing a supplementary agreement between local landowners, IHCL and the state government has already commenced.
Desai directed officials to ensure that compensation payments to landowners are completed at the earliest, in two phases. He further stated that a tripartite agreement among local villagers, IHCL, and the Maharashtra Tourism Department will be signed shortly to establish a clear framework covering land rights, employment opportunities, and the fair execution of the project.
Speaking on the occasion, Nitesh Rane said, “His special thanks to Shambhuraj Desai. He pointed out that, due to Desai’s concerted efforts, the long-pending project is now back on track and will greatly help the development of Sindhudurg’s first five-star hotel. He also urged the people of Sindhudurg, through Deepak Kesarkar, to give their wholehearted support to this tourism venture.”
Once completed, the project is expected to support tourism growth in Sindhudurg district and generate employment opportunities for local youth. Authorities reiterated the importance of residents' cooperation to ensure the smooth implementation of the development.
