MADC announces rehab package

Maharashtra Airport Development Company Limited (MADC) has announced an attractive package for the 8,500-project-affected persons (PAPs) of the over 3,620-hectare Multimodal International Air Cargo and Passenger Hub (MIHAN) project coming up at Nagpur.

The package entails resettlement of PAPs with civic amenities and monetary compensation on the Wardha Road where land prices are increasing by the day.

Though the decision has been welcomed by local politicians, it fails to address the issue of higher compensation for agricultural fields that are sought to be acquired by the state government's special purpose vehicle.

"This may come at a later stage if the government so decides," said a senior bureaucrat involved with the developments.

"The compensation is satisfactory but the chief minister should take an early call on the issue of land acquisition award," said legislator and state president of Bhartiya Janata Party, Nitin Gadkari.

He said a proposal of Rs 25 lakh per acre compensation to rural PAPs and Rs 15 lakh per acre to urban PAPs had already been submitted to the state government.