Team Herald

PANJIM: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has directed the Mopa Airport project proponents not to shift 14 Dhangar families, from their current place of settlement – Mopa Sada – that has been acquired for construction of second airport. The families had been resisting the shifting.

The Federation of Rainbow Warriors and one Hanuman Laxman Aroskar had approached NGT seeking directions restraining project proponent – Bangalore based GMR Airport Limited – from relocating or shifting the 14 occupants from the site. 

Fixing the matter for March 2, the NGT Pune bench comprising Justice Jawad Rahim and Dr Aiay Deshpande issued the order not to shift these occupants from their respective places until the next date of hearing. 

The appellant pointed out that there have been certain developments to show that the project is likely to take off the 14 houses which are coming within the area of airport project and they are likely to be displaced by way of rehabilitation.

“No firm rehabilitation proposal has so far been given to these occupants and they are being pressurized politically to accept whatever is being offered. The occupants are required to be protected till the appeal to Environment Clearance is decided,” the appellant stated. 

During the hearing, the project proponent informed that these occupants will be rehabilitated giving them alternative accommodation and compensation to their satisfaction. “We have formulated such a scheme which is under consideration of the government and, if approved and also agreed by such occupants, we will go ahead with the rehabilitation,” it stated.