Affected villagers agree to joint measurement of land

Villagers affected by the Navi Mumbai International Airport project have agreed to joint measurement of the 274 hectares to be acquired for the project. The measurement would be carried out along with Maharashtra revenue department officials. The exercise is expected to begin in a fortnight.

However, the state government and the villagers affected are yet to arrive at an agreement over the quantum of developed land to be given to the people, who have already dropped their demand for compensation of Rs 20 crore per acre. The villagers are demanding 40 per cent of the developed land, while the state government has offered 22.5 per cent.

State urban development secretary Manukumar Srivastav, along with City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) officials, today met the representatives of the villagers to discuss their various demands. The meeting was inconclusive, and both parties are expected to again meet on August 13.

Cidco Joint Managing Director Tanaji Satre told Business Standard, “At today’s meeting, PAVs (project affected villagers) have agreed for a joint measurement for the land to be acquired for the aeronautical purpose. The negotiations on the quantity of developed land to be offered to the PAVs would continue.”

Another government official said the government was keen to arrive at a consensus with PAVs before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Mumbai on August 18-19 to review the progress of various infrastructure projects, including the Navi Mumbai International Airport. Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh has already announced his ministry was ready to help in the project.

Of the 2,020 hectares of land required for the airport project, 1,400 hectares lay in Cidco’s possession. Another 450 hectares of privately-owned land is yet to be acquired. Of this, 274 hectares are purely for aeronautical purposes.

R C Gharat, chief negotiator of the PAVs, stated people from 10 affected villages had approved a joint measurement of the land. “However, we will continue to press for providing 40 per cent of the developed land of 274 hectares to PAVs from the 10 villages. During the joint measurement, the villagers and officials of the revenue department would actually measure the land in the possession of families---the land required for the airport project,” Gharat said. He hoped the negotiations would reach a consensus.

Gharat reiterated the allocation of 40 per cent net developed land had nothing to do with the government’s policy announced in 1994 to provide 12.5 per cent of the developed land to villagers affected by development projects in Navi Mumbai. He stated the government had expressed its willingness to offer 22.5 per cent of the developed land, though clarity was required before arriving at an agreement.