Govt takes possession of almost 99 per cent of land; group of farmers refuse award
TEAM HERALD
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PERNEM: In what could be the final lift off for the Mopa Greenfield airport, the government Monday took possession of almost 99 per cent of the land required for the airport proper, with now only the land for approach road remaining to be acquired.
The Reference for Quotation tender ~ the next step ~ is expected to be put up, inviting global partners within a fortnight but could be even as close as 11th of April. This is a global tender. However, there was opposition to the move with some farmers refusing to sign the papers at the Pernem Mamlatdar’s office even as officials claimed that all procedures were followed including the conduct of panchanama at the site.
The land taken into possession Monday in three parts ~ three lakh, one lakh and two lakh odd sq mts ~ totals to approximately 5 lakh and odd sq mts. The total area earmarked for Mopa is some 2272 acres.
According to sources, the delay in acquiring the approach road land was due to change in alignment, which was finalized by the chief minister himself. This was 4.5 km less than originally finalized by the consultant and which steered clear of any houses.
Meanwhile, a section of the farmers urged the North Goa Deputy Collector (land acquisition) to drop the land acquisition process for the proposed airport at Mopa. The aggrieved farmers led by Sandeep Kambli made this demand at the Pernem Mamlatdar’s office, where special land acquisition officer for Mopa Venancio Furtado had called the Mopa farmers to accept the possession award of land which was acquired by the government for the proposed airport.
One group of farmers decided to oppose the land acquisition process of the government and refused the awards claiming that their land had been unfairly acquired by paying a meager compensation and that all cases against acquisition were pending in the High Court.
The farmers later submitted a memorandum to the acquisition officer, which he refused to accept.
“The government is taking away the land without any written assurance,” said Kambli alleging that the government was forcefully acquiring land by paying very low amount.
