In April 2005, the state government issued notices in Raigad newspapers for acquisition of land. It announced its intention to acquire land to set up an SEZ. The notices led to a debate on the SEZ by farmers, media and business man. More than 80% of Raigad’s farmers hold small and marginal lands and unrecorded tenants are the most vulnerable. In June 2005, the farmers in a spontaneous reaction organized a protest march in Pen to demand (the promised) irrigation water from the Hetawane dam. 5000 strong farmers group questioned the government’s Land Acquisition Officer on reasons given by the government for taking over their land. A strong police force prevented them from entering the office. As the crowd grew aggressive and began pushing the closed doors of the office, police dispersed the crowd through lathi charge and teargas. Farmer activists, along with more than 32 agitators were booked under non-bailable offences. Sixteen agitators that included three women were held in jail for nineteen days. Around this time NCAS organized a consultation on the SEZ Act. Eminent social activists, scientists and lawyers were invited to analyse and discuss the Act, in which farmer representatives from Pen Block participated. (Dr. Vaishali Patil:2021)

The government’s land acquisition for MMSEZ was viewed in the context of the district’s historical struggle to retain its right to land. This was the first time that the state was acquiring a huge tract of land for the private sector. Farmers and activists recognised and realised that the project would appropriate their natural resources, especially land and water, destroy their traditional livelihoods; and most importantly would benefit not the people but Reliance industries alone. The leaders became resolute in not wanting to part with their land and natural resources. (Dr. Vaishali patil:2021)

Soon, a small band of knowledgeable, dedicated and active farmers came together on the issue recognising the need for collective action. A tribal group, from mangaon block performed a street play on the issue in all the project-area villages. The play would be followed by discussions on the proposed SEZ. At this time, land agents appointed by Ambani’s Reliance company began issuing threats to the activists, asking them to discontinue the campaign. The activists learnt that a number of unemployed youths, village level government representatives and key members in some villages were in the pay of the company. They opposed the anti-SEZ campaign and spread misinformation about it. (Dr. Vaishali Patil:2021)

At the block level, NGOs and activists formed a forum Jagtikikaran Virodhi Kruti Samithi (JVKS) (Forum against Globalization). Representatives of no political party other than the PWP found space in this forum. Later, different political parties came together and formed the Chauvis Gaon SEZ Virodhi Shetkari Sangarsh Samithi (the 42 villages coalition against the SEZ project) or the CGSVSSS under the leadership of Mr Subhash Mhatre, a project affected person and Tehsildar of the state’s revenue department. Representatives from the political parties of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP were included in this committee along with PWP.  A similar forum to oppose the project, the Maha Mumbai SEZ Virodhi Sangarsh Samithi (MMSVSS) was also formed at the district level by a lawyers group, under the leadership of former opposition leader in the assembly, Advocate Datta Patil. The other members of the forum were P.B. Sawant, former Chief Justice of the Bombay High Court, B.G. Kolse Patil former judge of Bombay High Court and senior social activist Vilas Sonawane. This group which is active in the Uran and Panvel blocks, filed a PIL and Ambani was disallowed extension of time limit towards acquiring land. (Dr. Vaishali patil:2021)

PWP organized a massive protest march to the Divisional Commissioner office at Konkan Bhavan, Navi Mumbai to address compulsory land acquisition by the government. On July 27 2007 more than 30,000 farmers walked in protest against the forceful land acquisition by the government. The State Chief Minister made a declaration that no land would be forcefully acquired against the wishes of the people. However, despite the Chief Minister’s assurance, the land acquisition process continued in the absence of any written official order or notification. As an appropriate counter-move, activists demanded a SAZ or Special Agricultural Zone to promote agriculture. In such a zone, increased irrigation could be used to develop horticulture, and fishing augmented and exported. The activists decided to continue their protest until the government stopped acquiring land. In order to galvanize the villagers and exert pressure on the state government it was decided to build village level organizations. It was further planned that villages would take part in chain fasts. Each village fasted for a day, followed by another village the next day.  This went on for an entire month in Pen block. The responsibility of organizing, motivating and guiding farmers was with the local village leaders. (Dr. Vaishali Patil:2021)