NCP MLA Rohit Pawar threatens to block Samruddhi Expressway over drought aid, cites Rs 77,000 crore crop loss

Rohit Pawar, a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly representing the Nationalist Congress Party (Split), announced that he will stage a blockade on the Samruddhi Expressway if the state government does not extend immediate drought relief measures. The threat was made public in a statement that linked the protest to the severe water shortage affecting large parts of the state.

Pawar claimed that the ongoing drought has resulted in agricultural losses amounting to roughly Rs 77,000 crore across the affected districts. He argued that the scale of the damage warrants urgent financial assistance and irrigation support for farmers who are facing crop failure.

The MLA did not specify the exact form of the blockade but indicated that it could disrupt traffic on the newly constructed expressway, a key corridor connecting Mumbai and Nagpur. State officials have not yet responded to the demand, and the potential impact on commuters and logistics remains a concern for both the government and the public.