Mumbai:
It appears that proposed Navi Mumbai Airport has once again run into troubled waters. Negotiations between the City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Ltd. (CIDCO) and the Project-Affected People (PAP), mostly farmers whose land would be acquired for the project, hit fresh deadlock.
The PAPs have once again refused to accept the compensation package offered by the CIDCO. The package comprises 22 per cent of the developed land in return for the land acquired for the project.
The farmers have stuck to their earlier demands - either 40 per cent of the developed land or monetary compensation of Rs 20 crore per acre, or 30 per cent of the developed land plus Rs 1 crore per acre. The talks between the two parties were held on August 3.
TC Benjamin, who was heading the land acquisition talks for last eight months, was transferred from the post of secretary of urban development-1 just a few days ago.
"After a series of consultations for the last eight months, CIDCO offered us 22 per cent of the developed land as compensation. However, we are firm on our earlier demands, and have conveyed them to CIDCO in the last meeting.
We want either 40 per cent of developed land or Rs 20 crore per acre. If they cannot give 40 per cent of the developed land, we are ready to accept 30 per cent of the developed land plus monetary compensation of Rs 1 crore per acre. We are still ready for negotiations and we want to reach a solution as early as possible so the airport work should not get affected," PAP representative R C Gharat said.
On the other hand, CIDCO has expressed optimism for speedy process of land acquisition.
"We have given our best offer to the PAP, which is 22 per cent of the developed land, and they are cooperating. Once the airport work starts, PAP will be the most benefited as they will get work and business opportunity.
So we anticipate that compensation issue will be sorted out soon," CIDCO chairman Pramod Hindurao said. According to sources in the CIDCO, the value of compensation package offered by them is more than enough.
"Citing importance of the international airport, CIDCO offered 22 per cent of the developed land. Earlier, the agency had given just 12.5 per cent of the developed land to farmers whose lands were acquired during development of Navi Mumbai.
The city is experiencing an unprecedented rise in property rates in last few years, so the PAP are going to earn huge money by selling the developed land, and through allied businesses of the airport.
But they are trying to get best deal possible by obstructing the negotiations," a senior CIDCO official said.
"In case the PAP do not agree with our offer, they may approach the state government for the compensation that they are seeking," CIDCO public relations officer Mohan Ninawe said.