An intense and animated controversy has broken out over the naming of Mopa International Airport as it nears completion. But is the naming controversy shifting the focus away from mull goenkars whose several generations have been cultivating the land and are rendered land losers?
While the official figures of the govt state that a little over Rs 15.78 crore have been paid to land losers under the old compensation act, it appears only about 15 to 20 families out of nearly 250 families have been compensated.
Another Rs 45 crores which are to be paid under the market rate compensation is sitting in the coffers of the Economic Development Corporation and have not reached the land losers. Rs 15.78 cr (the government claims there’s another RS 28.18cr) crores is sitting with the fast track court which land losers allege is anything but fast track.
Some land losers say that they have not received a single paise by way of compensation and the entire compensation claims are a sham and hogwash. While claims are made that 90% of the Mopa airport work is ready, no amount has been paid under the enhanced market rate compensation act, to the affected families.
Third, while with the enhanced market rate compensation will add up to only Rs 240 per square metre for the Mopa airport area, will land sharks make 41 times more money per square metre and sell the land outside the airport boundary for Rs 10000 per square metre?
Watch the gripping and riveting issues surrounding the Mopa airport on the Herald TV debate – “Is the MOPA name game, overshadowing some of the larger concerns that affect land losers?”
