Navi Mumbai, Feb. 17 -- Opposition is intensifying in Raigad district after the Maharashtra cabinet on February 10 approved a 22.5% land pooling policy for the proposed Karnala-Sai-Chirner (KSC) New Town, popularly referred to as "Third Mumbai". The project spans nearly 323 sq.km and covers 124 villages in Uran, Panvel and Pen talukas. Farmer groups and village representatives fear the project could lead to large-scale displacement and disruption of agricultural and fishing livelihoods. At a meeting on February 14, the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority) KSC Navnagar Virodhi Samiti in Raigad, resolved to launch a phased agitation against the policy. The protest includes village meetings, rallies, gatherings and a district-level convention. Leaders warned that if their demands are ignored, they will organise a march to Mantralaya in March, drawing parallels with earlier anti-SEZ agitations in Raigad. Sudhakar Patil, president of the Samiti, said, "We will begin with meetings and memoranda. If public sentiment is ignored, a march will be organised." Under the approved framework, landowners must surrender land in exchange for 22.5% of developed plots. Officials have said land may be acquired either through voluntary participation in the pooling scheme or, if landowners do not consent, under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act. Farmer representatives have objected to several aspects of the land acquisition, like priority allotment for large industrial and infrastructure projects. Villagers are particularly worried that the land allotting process may not be transparent, leading to uncertainty over timelines. Patil said, "This is not just about land-entire villages, homes and livelihoods are at stake. The policy appears designed to facilitate large investors while local residents are being asked to surrender ancestral land without clarity on rehabilitation or long-term guarantees." Rupesh Patil, general secretary of the committee, said, "Decisions of this scale must be taken after consulting those whose land and homes are affected. Farmers should not be made to bear financial risks in a project whose benefits may take years to materialise," he said. The state government has defended the project, saying the KSC New Town is aimed at decongesting Mumbai, guiding planned urbanisation and creating economic hubs in the Atal Setu impact zone. The MMRDA has been designated as the new town development authority. An MMRDA official said, "The project is planned with the aim of ensuring sustainable urban development while taking into account the needs of existing villages." However, with protests gathering pace across Raigad, the project is entering a politically sensitive phase even before land acquisition begins....