PANJIM: In what could be termed a Diwali bonanza for the farmers of Mopa, who have been waiting for enhanced compensation in exchange of their land acquired for the new airport, the State government has issued orders for three times more compensation.
The government has finalised around Rs 36 crore for the revised compensation to the affected farmers. Director of civil aviation Suresh Shanbhogue said the order has already been issued by the Director of Civil Aviation after the Finance Department has released the funds. However, he said, the exact date of the disbursement would be announced by the chief minister soon. Farmers, who received compensation earlier, will now receive the hiked compensation.
The state government has acquired 78.41 lakh square metres of land for the proposed airport from the villages of Casarvarnem, Chandel, Varconda, Uguem and Mopa in Pernem taluka. Earlier, the government had deposited Rs 54.79 crore with the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) for the purpose of land acquisition.
Of this, EDC has disbursed Rs 12 crore, which is around 20 percent of the amount deposited, as compensation to the farmers so far, in the last four years.
The remaining amount is with the EDC, as it claims that some farmers’ payments are pending due to family disputes and lack of documents. Besides, some claims are pending in court.
Sources said, “Initially, the state government acquired the land for the proposed airport at Rs 40-Rs 80 per square metre, depending on the type of land and ownership. Now, the revised rate would be three times the actual rate, which was finalised a few years back, and it would be disbursed soon as promised by the government.”
Officials said that the proposal has been cleared by the Revenue Department. Besides, administrative approval has also been given by the Chief Minister. Shanbhogue said that the amount has been released by the Finance Department, Civil Aviation and deposited with EDC.
The sanction has come following Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar’s announcement in the 2015 budget speech when he said the farmer’ compensation will be hiked four times. With just months left of the government’s tenure before the 2017 elections, farmers were apprehensive over the release of the compensation.
