State faces land acquisition hurdle for Navi Mumbai airport

However,Cidco needs to resolve the knotty issue of acquiring the remaining amount of land needed for the project. According to the revised plan,the airport needs a total of 2,020 hectares of land. Of this,1,333 hectares is already with Cidco,263 hectares of government land is being transferred and 424 hectares of private land has to be acquired.

Villagers in Panvel,to whom this private land belongs,are unhappy with what they say is the government’s attitude towards land acquisition and the relief and rehabilitation package for the project-affected people. Locals from 18 villages affected by NMIA have formed the Navi Mumbai International Airport Project Affected People’s Committee. The committee has sent letters to Cidco and Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan,voicing their dissent about government inaction over their demands.

In a letter dated April 18,the committee wrote to Cidco that despite repeated attempts,the concerns raised by the project-affected people have not been resolved. The letter says that during the meeting held on February 24,it was decided that the issues of compensation for land acquisition and transfer of 12.5 per cent developed land will be discussed and a solution arrived at. However,while this was in progress,the Divisional Commissioner of Konkan region issued notices to the villagers for land acquisition.

In a subsequent letter addressed to Chavan,the members stated that about six meetings with Cidco and other government officials were held without any outcome. “We are upset with Cidco and if our long-pending demands are kept hanging,we will oppose the project. Therefore,you should look into the demands made by the committee,” states the letter.

“We were in the process of dialogue with officials. We do not want to come in the way of development,but notices should not have been issued while the dialogue was still on regarding rehabilitation and compensation packages,” said Pandharinath Keni,president of the committee.

Villagers said they had given land to Cidco in 1976 for the creation of Navi Mumbai,but the 12.5 per cent developed land they should have received in exchange has not yet been given. “We are still waiting for promises made in 1976 to be fulfilled. In such a scenario,the government has issued notices of emergency regarding land and said it will be acquired in 15 days. Can we trust Cidco?” asked Keni.

Another meeting with Cidco officials is likely this month where the issue of notices will be raised.

Government officials said several rounds of meetings have been held between Cidco and the villagers and the rehabilitation package has been discussed. “Land has to be acquired for the airport. It cannot wait indefinitely. The rehabilitation package has been discussed with the villagers,” said T C Benjamin,Principal Secretary,UDD.