Navi Mumbai : The much-awaited international airport project in Navi Mumbai gained momentum as most of the disgruntled villagers have fallen in line, literally. The City and Industrial Development Corporation has set the deadline for submitting consent letter on October 6.
“More and more people have come forward to make the airport project a grand success,” said a CIDCO official, adding many more are expected to submit their consent letters in coming days. Now, the villagers were keen to co-operate for the on-going survey and hence there was no need for police deployment for survey, said another CIDCO official.
Those villagers who were opposing the government’s land deal offer from the beginning, realised that the CIDCO’s airport relief package is better than the compensation under Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, said a source familiar with the development. As the deadline neared, the Metro One in New Panvel was opened on Sunday for accepting consent letter from villagers and would be open on Monday despite being a public holiday.
According to sources at deputy collector office, Raigad, the planning agency had so far received 600 of the 1,350 consent letters and nearly 50% of the R&R (relief and rehabilitation) letters. The houses which were constructed before September 2013 will be counted in the R&R survey.
“Even villagers from Paragon Koli, who were opposing till the last moment, now they were willing to co-operate for the on-going survey,” said a highly placed source.
After visiting deputy collector office, Raigad, it was revealed that CIDCO officials were ready to extend all possible help to villagers including affidavits and any other legal help.
As completing the process of acquisition within two years from the date of notification is nearing the deadline, there is still scope for completing the process of accepting letters and settling claims, said a source who wanted not to be named. As per Navi Mumbai International Airport package, the CIDCO has offered 22.5% developed plots as compensation to project affected people, whose land would be acquired. The State government has offered 22.5% of developed plot with an average floor index space (FSI) of 2.
The villagers would get FSI of 1.5 for 12.5% of developed land and 2.5% for the remaining 10% developed land.
The CIDCO is hopeful that airport deal scheme would be accepted by as the Navi Mumbai airport becomes a reality.
Indra Bhadra
