Negotiations between the villagers and the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) over the compensation for the project-affected persons may soon have a breakthrough that could help the long-overdue airport project to take off soon. The agency has put forward a new proposal for the to-be displaced villagers where it offers to bear the transport cost of shifting the household, and also a mechanism where the construction of the new house is funded.
Ten villages, that will lose around 500 hectares of land for the project, were earlier offered 50 square metres of land for their wards, who should be over 21 years of age. This was along with compensatory land that would be equal to the land they would lose for the airport. “According to the new proposal, the part offering of 50 square metres land for children has been scrapped and Cidco has instead proposed offering `50,000 for shifting the household items to the compensatory land, and buying construction material. This is with the assumption that the family would build a new house there. Also, to build the house, the public works department (PWD) will survey and conduct an estimate, thereby funding its construction,” said R.C. Gharat, advisor to the villagers’ union and the man leading the negotiations with the government.
Mr Gharat, however, clarified that they are yet to accept the proposal, which is slated to be discussed in the next meeting scheduled for September 17. This is the third formal meeting between the two sides with the first two being held on August 28 and September 6. The compensation package is now the only remaining hurdle in the project, which managed to secure all necessary government permissions. The project cost has also seen a staggering cost overrun from `4,500 crore to `14, 500 crore.