The proposed international airport at Purandar taluka in Pune district hit a roadblock after a clash broke out between police and villagers earlier this month. Following the violence, the district administration indefinitely postponed the drone survey of 2,673 hectares of land spread across seven villages — Kumbharvalan, Pargaon, Khanwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjwadi, Udachiwadi and Vapuri — for the proposed airport.
However, it is now being learnt that the administration will hold talks next week with the villagers who are opposed to the project. The meeting has been set up following directions from the State Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule. The meeting aims to address villagers’ concerns regarding land acquisition and discuss the future course of action on the much-anticipated project.
Earlier, Bawankule met with some of the protesting farmers and urged them to reconsider their opposition, assuring them of the "best possible land deal." He made it clear that the airport is a policy decision and there was no question of rolling it back.
The minister also said that the state may propose a new compensation package after deliberations. "The government will try to offer the best possible deal to the farmers, even if it means tweaking existing land acquisition laws," he added.
He further said that misinformation on social media about compensation rates has created confusion among farmers. "The government's offer will be fair and beneficial, and I believe it will convince the farmers to support the (airport) work," he said.
The BJP leader reiterated the government's willingness to engage in dialogue. "We are open to all suggestions. Let's sit across the table, resolve this deadlock, and open the doors of development in the region," he told the farmers.
