The All-Party Action Committee (APAC) has warned to stage a protest by forming a human chain on June 10 to put pressure on the state government to name the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMAI) after Project Affected Persons (PAPs) leader late DB Patil.
APAC claimed that villagers from Raigad, Thane, and Palghar including Mumbai will participate in the formation of the human chain. While the proposed NMIA has missed several deadlines, and its completion in near future looks bleak due to the ongoing lockdown, local leaders have started championing for its name.
The APAC says that the state government should understand the emotions of villagers and name the airport after late D B Patil.
Last month, on April 17, the City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) board approved the name of the proposed NMIA after Late Bala Saheb Thackeray and sent the proposal to the state government for final approval. However, leaders from Navi Mumbai have demanded that it should be named after former PAPs leader D B Patil, as he had fought for farmers and PAPs had ensured that they get 12.5% developed land from CIDCO. Apart from Navi Mumbai, Patil had also championed the cause of farmers in the Thane and Palghar area.
Local leaders from Panvel alleged, “The CIDCO board, in a hurry, approved the name of the proposed airport after Late Bala Saheb Thackeray while we were already corresponding with all the concerned government agencies.”
President of APAC Koli Mahasangh and MLA Rameshdada Patil said that the protest will be held peacefully by following all norms required. “The human chain will be formed from 10 am to 12 noon on June 10 in a peaceful manner. Even if the administration tries to suppress the agitation, they will continue the fight by following all judicial and democratic means till a decision is taken to give the name of the proposed airport after D B Patil,” said Patil.
(To receive our E-paper on whatsapp daily, please click here. To receive it on Telegram, please click here. We permit sharing of the paper's PDF on WhatsApp and other social media platforms.)
