Sena MP backs stir against airport project

The stir for better compensation for the evacuees of MIHAN Multimodal International Hub Airport at Nagpur project here is gathering momentum even as the Government panel set up to study their demands was in the final stages of deciding a new package for them.

The stir for better compensation for the evacuees of MIHAN Multimodal International Hub Airport at Nagpur project here is gathering momentum even as the Government panel set up to study their demands was in the final stages of deciding a new package for them.

Taking a plunge into the agitation, newly-elected Shiv Sena MP from Ramtek8212; Prakash Jadhav8212;got his head tonsured on Monday at Shivangaon village. He was accompanied by Leader of the Opposition in Legislative Assembly Ramdas Kadam, who said the Sena would take up the issue in the Assembly in a big way. Last week, two women from the village had got their heads shaved as a mark of protest.

Compensation amounts, ranging from Rs 3 lakh to Rs 10 lakh per acre, had been granted to the evacuees under the Central Land Acquisition Act. But the villagers have been demanding compensation as per market rates. While land from most other villages affected by the project has been acquired for the MIHAN SEZ, the land in Shivangaon is sought to be acquired for the proposed new runway of the Nagpur international airport.

Nagpur Collector Sanjay Mukherjee says, 8220;a delegation had met the panel led by Additional Chief Secretary Ramanand Tiwari at Nagpur. The agitationists had agreed to withdraw stir and wait for the report of the committee. Later, a last-minute meeting with President Abdul Kalam was also organised for them.8221;

About the villagers8217; allegation that the lands were seized from them under Urban Land Ceiling Act and an undertaking was taken from them that they would not go to court, Mukherjee said, 8220;They were compensated for it on par with the land not taken from them under the Act, when the Act permits Rs 1,500 per hectare.8221; The compensation has been awarded as per Government ready-recknor rates, he said.

Meanwhile, sources said a better compensation package is being worked out by the panel looking into the demands of the evacuees.