Maharashtra govt scales down land acquisition for Dighi port project

Following protests and concerns over viability, the state government has cut its acquisition target to 6460 hectares from 25,000 hectares

In the wake of widespread opposition and concerns about the viability of the project, the Maharashtra government has reduced the area of the land to be acquired for the proposed industrial area at Dighi Port.

The port is in Raigad district — around 103 km south of state capital Mumbai. Around  25,000 hectare was supposed to be acquired under the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). It has now been reduced to 6,460 hectare.

The state-run Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), which is currently engaged in the acquisition of 6,460 hectare for the phase I of the DMIC project, has clarified that the acquisition was done through consent and not under any pressure.

A MIDC official, who did not want to be named, told Business Standard: “Of the proposed acquisition of 25,000 hectare, 12,140 hectare has been notified but in the first phase, 6460 hectares will be acquired. This is to make the project viable. Besides, there has been objections raised by a section of villagers against the land acquisition. Rate for the land is fixed by  negotiation considering the ready reckoner and sale-purchase transactions of the last three years. MIDC is offering Rs 46 lakh per hectare without 15 per cent developed plot to the project-affected persons (PAP) or Rs 32.50 lakh per hectare with 15 per cent developed plot.”

The industrial area includes development of green field port, export-oriented industrial units or special economic zones, integrated logistics hub, integrated township, development of 3000 Mw power plant, feeder road and rail links.

The DMIC in Maharashtra covers Mumbai, Thane, Raigad, Nashik, Aurangabad, Ahmednagar, Pune, Dhule and Nandurbar districts and influences 18 per cent of the total area of the state. As far as the Shendra-Bidkin Industrial Park near Aurangabad, which is also part of DMIC project, MIDC, in the first phase, has acquired 3,200 hectare and taken possession. MIDC has offered compensation of Rs 56.81 lakh per hectare to PAPs.

The official said MIDC was acquiring barren and waste lands and lands under perennial irrigation and gaothans were avoided.

“'While determining the compensation, the market value of land is considered. The compensation is determined by the agreement between the state government and PAP. In most of the cases, land is acquired by obtaining consent while compulsory acquisition is a rate phenomenon.” The official noted that acquisition and disbursement of compensation has been carried out under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act.

However, villagers have alleged lack of transparency and clarity during land acquisition. Ulka Mahajan, convenor, Jagatikikaran Virodhi Kruti Samiti (a non-government organisation taking up the cause of local villagers and farmers) said: “It is a great achievement that due to the consistent protests by farmers the state government has scaled down Dighi Port industrial area considerably. Neither the government nor MIDC were able to rationalise the need for acquisition of such a huge tract of land. We raised several issues during our agitation, which were never answered. Mahajan said the ongoing land acquisition should take place under the new Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. She claimed the provisions of the said Act was not applied in the present case.

However, MIDC official said  even though  new Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013 was about to come in force, the concerned provisions of determining the compensation were considered.

“We are providing 15 per cent  developed land tot he PAPs  over and above the compensation as rehabilitation package,” he added.