PANJIM: The State government has paid an amount of Rs 15.78 crore to 1,533 families (868 individuals) land losers for the Mopa Greenfield airport, while, Rs 28.18 crore has been deposited in the Fast Track Court, Mapusa due to legal hassles.
Also, 61 individuals are yet to claim their compensation despite notices and even after the award was finalised nine years ago.
Mopa Airport Cell Special Land Acquisition Officer (SLAO) Santosh Kundaikar said that the government paid Rs 15,78,60,945 to 1,533 families, whose land was acquired for the airport project at Mopa. The amount includes 30 per cent solatium and 12 per cent additional compensation.
He said that a total of 81,38,145 square metres of land was acquired from the five revenue villages of Chandel, Mopa, Ugvem, Casarvarnem and Varkhand. The land acquisition for the proposed airport started in 2008 and the last award was finalised in 2013.
Kundaikar said that those who produced their legal documents were released compensation while, those having disputes as to the title to receive the compensation have now been referred to the Fast Track Court at Mapusa. The government has also deposited Rs 28,18,73,883 in the Fast Track Court to be disbursed as compensation to those who will be lawfully entitled to as determined by the Court.
Kundaikar said that 61 individuals have not come forward to claim the compensation amount even after sending them notices. An amount of Rs 18.64 lakh is to be paid to these individuals.
According to the SLAO, the government initially acquired the land at Rs 40 per square metre for untenanted land and Rs 25 per square metre for tenanted land. Later, the rate was enhanced to Rs 60 per square metre for untenanted land at Varkhand and Rs 80 per square metre for untenanted land at Casarvanem.
Former Pernem Municipal chairperson and landlord Vassudev Deshprabhu, who is yet to receive compensation has blamed the government for complicating the issue. He said that the government washed off its hands in determining the apportionment of compensation and sent the files to the Fast Track Court. The government could have sorted out the claims at the village level itself as done at the time of the acquisition of land for the Konkan Railway project.
Deshprabhu is a major land loser for the Mopa airport and according to him; compensation of Rs 18 crore is due to him.
Deshprabhu said that sending the files to Fast Track Court does not mean that it will be decided fast. “I had given a formula to the government to thrash out the claims but they did not do it. Nobody is taking responsibility in settling claims.”
Mopa Vimantal Panchkroshi Pidit Jansanghatana president Bharat Bagkar said that around 15 per cent of families had accepted compensation amount while 85 per cent have not accepted compensation. He said that many families have received the compensation amount under protest and filed separate cases in the court for enhancement of compensation.
Local activist Sanjay Barde said that both, the landlord and tenants have been complaining that they have not received compensation for the land acquired for Mopa airport. He too said that hardly 20 per cent of families have received compensation and demanded that the government should ensure that the displaced families are rehabilitated and locals are given jobs before the new airport is commissioned.
