People from villages affected by the Navi Mumbai international airport have demanded the government and project developers to provide them 40 per cent of the developed land as compensation.
Of the total 2,020 hectares (ha) of land required for the airport project, nearly 1,400 ha are in the possession of City and Industrial Development Corp (Cidco), the nodal agency for the project.
The state government has agreed to hand over its 150 ha for the project. Besides, Cidco needs another 450 ha of private land for which notices have been served.
Of this 450 ha, 274 ha will be developed for aeronautical purpose. Villagers, who had earlier demanded a compensation of Rs 20 crore per acre, are now asking for 40 per cent of this 274 ha.
The issue will be discussed in a meeting called by Urban Development Secretary TC Benjamin tomorrow between villagers’ representatives and Cidco officials. The government hopes the first phase of the airport to be commissioned in 2015.
“The villagers are no more pressing for a financial compensation. Instead, the government should give us a net 40 per cent developed land,” R C Gharat, chief negotiator of the villagers, told Business Standard.
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He added the government had expressed its willingness to offer 22.5 per cent of the developed land, though more clarity on the offer was required before arriving at an agreement. The affected people should be free to use the developed land for residential or commercial purpose, he added.
Said Pramod Hindurao, chairman of Cidco: “The government may agree to provide about 15 per cent of the developed land to the affected people. However, it will be decided in the ongoing negotiations.”
Hindurao said he would soon meet Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, who’s hailing from Maharashtra, to expedite project.
Added Tanaji Satre, joint managing director, Cidco: “Of the 450 ha yet to be acquired, 274 ha are purely for aeronautical purpose. Negotiations are currently under way with the villagers and we hope to arrive at an agreement.”
Land acquisition, he said, was being pursued on a priority basis. “The state government and Cidco have already appealed to the central government to include the Navi Mumbai project in its Greenfield airport policy and hand it over to us. The central government is yet to take a call in this regard. Besides, the government has yet to approve the request for qualification (RFQ) for the airport project.”
Another Cidco official said it was quite optimistic to get forest clearance and the approval of the Bombay High Court to take off the project development.