Land talks begin for Purandar airport, amid 3,000 objections from farmers in 7 villages

Time of India

a day ago

Pune: Land acquisition for the proposed Rs 3,500-crore Purandar International Airport showed early signs of becoming a complex process for the state govt after officials said they received more than 3,000 objections from farmers in seven villages that are set to lose land to the project.
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Hearings began this week to negotiate land rates and other compensation details with farmers, but many said they were not willing to part with their land. Others who are willing to sell have demanded Rs 10 crore per acre and the return of 15% of acquired land as developed plots, within the airport complex.
It's the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation that's spearheading the acquisition of 2,832 hectares that will be needed for the greenfield airport project, which spans the villages of Vanpuri, Udachiwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjawadi, Kumbharvalan, Pargaon and Khanwadi — all in Purandar taluka.
During a compensation hearing organised by state officials on Tuesday, anger was palpable among the protesting farmers. "We do not want construction here," said Jitendra Memane, a farmer from Pargaon. "We will continue our protests. They had first identified another location. They can build there," he said.
Officials TOI spoke to said they would need at least 10 days to review the total of 3,022 objections that had come in from the seven villages.
"All these objections and details of the hearings, along with our observations, will be submitted to the state govt," said a senior land acquisition official who is conducting the proceedings, which would have to be comprehensive.
In Udachiwadi village alone, 142 objections have been filed, 116 of them were heard on Monday. Local farmer Santosh Hagwane said: "No acquisition should happen unless all farmers are completely satisfied with the details."
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Originally given to Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), the Purandar project - seen by many as critical to Pune's growth - was transferred to MIDC following sustained farmer opposition. The MIDC now plans to raise Rs 3,500 crore from private investors to acquire 2,732 hectares, including an additional 70 hectares from the forest department.
Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition) Kalyan Pandhare said the process would be completely transparent, with the state planning to acquire 90% of land with 10% returned to farmers as developed plots.
"There will be no injustice to people," Pandhare said.
Altogether, more than 2,000 families would need to be compensated for their property, but with many farmers demanding payments in full, high compensation rates and partial return of land, the challenges for officials remain significant.
A second round of hearings has now been scheduled for June 17, to accommodate the farmers who missed the initial proceedings.
Pune: Land acquisition for the proposed Rs 3,500-crore Purandar International Airport showed early signs of becoming a complex process for the state govt after officials said they received more than 3,000 objections from farmers in seven villages that are set to lose land to the project.
Hearings began this week to negotiate land rates and other compensation details with farmers, but many said they were not willing to part with their land.
Others who are willing to sell have demanded Rs 10 crore per acre and the return of 15% of acquired land as developed plots, within the airport complex.
It's the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation that's spearheading the acquisition of 2,832 hectares that will be needed for the greenfield airport project, which spans the villages of Vanpuri, Udachiwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjawadi, Kumbharvalan, Pargaon and Khanwadi — all in Purandar taluka.
During a compensation hearing organised by state officials on Tuesday, anger was palpable among the protesting farmers. "We do not want construction here," said Jitendra Memane, a farmer from Pargaon. "We will continue our protests. They had first identified another location. They can build there," he said.
Officials TOI spoke to said they would need at least 10 days to review the total of 3,022 objections that had come in from the seven villages.
"All these objections and details of the hearings, along with our observations, will be submitted to the state govt," said a senior land acquisition official who is conducting the proceedings, which would have to be comprehensive.
In Udachiwadi village alone, 142 objections have been filed, 116 of them were heard on Monday. Local farmer Santosh Hagwane said: "No acquisition should happen unless all farmers are completely satisfied with the details."
Originally given to Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), the Purandar project - seen by many as critical to Pune's growth - was transferred to MIDC following sustained farmer opposition. The MIDC now plans to raise Rs 3,500 crore from private investors to acquire 2,732 hectares, including an additional 70 hectares from the forest department.
Deputy Collector (Land Acquisition) Kalyan Pandhare said the process would be completely transparent, with the state planning to acquire 90% of land with 10% returned to farmers as developed plots.
"There will be no injustice to people," Pandhare said.
Altogether, more than 2,000 families would need to be compensated for their property, but with many farmers demanding payments in full, high compensation rates and partial return of land, the challenges for officials remain significant.
A second round of hearings has now been scheduled for June 17, to accommodate the farmers who missed the initial proceedings.