Airport does a kamikaze into lives

Even as the civil aviation ministry gave CIDCO the ‘go-ahead’ to acquire land for the proposed international airport in Navi Mumbai, over 7,000 residents of five villages stand to lose their lands while the quaint island village Waghivali will disappear. Villagers say they will accede only if their children are given jobs and the land is bought at present-day rates rather than what was tabulated in 1992-’94

After the Civil Aviation Ministry's recent nod for acquisition of land for the proposed international airport project in Navi Mumbai, the future of over 7,000 farmers in five villages - well placed in the naturally rich encompass of Panvel along Thane creek - appears uncertain. The project would also see Maharashtra losing its rare island village- Waghivali.

"We do not even know when we are going to be displaced, at what cost and where? asks Subhash Patil, Sarpanch of Waghivali village, the only in Thane creek close to Belapur which came up on India's roadmap four years ago and electricity network a decade before.

The village - though surrounded by sea water - has small sweet water pond inside - nature's rare treasure.

The woes of project-affected people in villages like Ulva, Kolhi Kopar, Chinchpada, Dapoli, Pargaon, Ganeshpuri, Wadghar, Kombadbhuja, Morwa, Kolha, and Dongi falling in five panchayats are unending.

They are crying foul over the state government's 'autocracy'. The CIDCO has stopped issuing permission for selling out their agricultural plots by announcing land reservation for the project.

Kavi Tarekar, Sarpanch of Pargon village said neither the government revenue department nor CIDCO has forwarded a single letter informing them about the reservation of their villages for airport project.

"Government acquired some land in Kopargaon by paying a meagre Rs 15000 per acre in 1994. But that is not going to be a case with us. We want minimum Rs 15 lakh for each acre," the villagers of Parvagaon and Waghivali said, expressing resolve to get their demands fulfilled.

Krishna Soma Koli, Sarpanch of Ulva village warned the villagers would go on warpath if their demands are neglected. "We want employment and assured business for our children in future. If government gives that, we are ready to abandon our villages to pave way for airport project," asserts Koli.

CIDCO PRO Buddhabhushan Gaikwad said most of the 950-hectare land required for the project is under the possession of the CIDCO. For the acquisition of remaining land, he said "a time-bound acquisition programme with rates as per rules and regulations would be announced by the state government once the project gets nod,"

"We have identified places for rehabilitation programme which is ready," he added.