 "Fresh hurdle for Navi Mumbai airport")
Cracks have surfaced among the Navi Mumbai airport project-affected villagers. A section of them has voiced opposition to the Maharashtra government’s offer for the allocation of 22.5 per cent developed land.
Instead, these villagers have announced their decision to continue the agitation for compensation of 35 per cent developed land and monetary compensation of Rs 6.25 crore per hectare (ha). This has caught the officials of the state government and City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) unawares.
Villagers from Pargaon, Dungi, Kohli, Ovla and Upper Ovla are at the forefront. These are part of the 10 villages from which 671 ha of private land is yet to be acquired by Cidco. Villagers held meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, announcing their resolve to fight for additional compensation.
He said key villagers will meet on November 17 to work out a road map for the agitation. Another meeting will be convened on November 24.
The government on Monday announced it had reached an agreement with PAPs on a compensation package, which includes allotment of 22.5 per cent developed land, the award of these lands at the time of signing of the consent agreement for this and the allocation of land three times the existing one for the reconstruction of houses.
Cidco chairman Pramod Hindurao said, “I will soon meet the villagers and make all attempts to take them on board, so that development of the airport begins at the earliest. The Maharashtra government and Cidco have worked out a unique compensation package.” However, he said Cidco was open to talks with the villagers.
R C Gharat, chief negotiator for PAPs, claimed nearly 70 per cent of them had given consent for the state government’s offer for the allotment of 22.5 per cent developed land and other benefits. “I hope other villagers will carefully study the government's offer and drop their opposition,” he said.
Instead, these villagers have announced their decision to continue the agitation for compensation of 35 per cent developed land and monetary compensation of Rs 6.25 crore per hectare (ha). This has caught the officials of the state government and City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) unawares.
Villagers from Pargaon, Dungi, Kohli, Ovla and Upper Ovla are at the forefront. These are part of the 10 villages from which 671 ha of private land is yet to be acquired by Cidco. Villagers held meetings on Wednesday and Thursday, announcing their resolve to fight for additional compensation.
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Pargaon village sarpanch Mahendra Patil told Business Standard: “We do not agree to the government’s offer. We want both, 35 per cent developed land and monetary compensation of Rs 6.25 crore per ha. Besides, we will press for 50 per cent reservation of jobs for project-affected persons (PAPs).”
He said key villagers will meet on November 17 to work out a road map for the agitation. Another meeting will be convened on November 24.
The government on Monday announced it had reached an agreement with PAPs on a compensation package, which includes allotment of 22.5 per cent developed land, the award of these lands at the time of signing of the consent agreement for this and the allocation of land three times the existing one for the reconstruction of houses.
Cidco chairman Pramod Hindurao said, “I will soon meet the villagers and make all attempts to take them on board, so that development of the airport begins at the earliest. The Maharashtra government and Cidco have worked out a unique compensation package.” However, he said Cidco was open to talks with the villagers.
R C Gharat, chief negotiator for PAPs, claimed nearly 70 per cent of them had given consent for the state government’s offer for the allotment of 22.5 per cent developed land and other benefits. “I hope other villagers will carefully study the government's offer and drop their opposition,” he said.