Dinesh Kamath's news item 'PM, CM, CIDCO and NMIA project' that was published in Newsband

PM, CM, CIDCO and NMIA project

By Dinesh Kamath

Pictures of PM, CM, Sanjay Bhatia and NMIA project 

NAVI MUMBAI: City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) and its Managing Director Sanjay Bhatia are trying their best to pacify agitated project-affected persons (PAPs) in Navi Mumbai. To achieve this goal they even came up with a 26-point action plan for the benefit of PAPs who are feeling agitated over Navi Mumbai airport project. They have made an attempt to address basic issues raised by the PAPs. They have proposed a uniform developed land allotment policy for a village. While a consumer facilitation centre will be set up for PAPs, a special redressal grievance officer will be appointed to take cognizance of complaints, while an IG-level officer will be nominated to probe complaints of graft.

CIDCO will provide financial assistance to schools set up infrastructure totalling Rs 200 crore. It proposes to construct roads, underground drainage, additional rooms in primary and middle schools and parking lots. Computers and furniture will be provided to schools. A grant will be given to cultural events organized by the PAPs. Mining belts will be given to them and in addition, CIDCO will pay the fees of PAPs admitted in IITs and IIMs. The stipend to ITI students has been increased and so also that of Junior college students and postgraduate students. CIDCO will come up with Hutatma Bhavan in Uran Bhumiputra Bhavan in Ulwe.

Even the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) is taking interest in the Navi Mumbai International Airport project considering the fact that elections are less than a year away. PMO has fixed July 2014 as a deadline to issue work tenders. Chief Minister of Maharashtra Prithviraj Chavan too is trying to tackle the two main hurdles before the project - political support and consent of locals.

He called a meeting of important people and it was decided that CIDCO should first address the concerns of Project Affected Persons (PAPs) from earlier projects and win over locals who are opposing the Navi Mumbai airport. The CM also planned a meeting with all stakeholders during which senior politicians will engage with leaders of the PAPs.

The project affected people (PAPs) of Navi Mumbai airport on 400 hectares of land are all set to get additional 10 per cent developed land, probably one of the highest such compensations, over and above the 12.5% developed land offered against land acquisitions. The CIDCO decision to this effect received a high-level nod.

Thus the proposed airport has been included in the list of priority projects by the Prime Minister as well as Chief Minister of the State. The CM and CIDCO officials will m eet once more before making the final compensation announcement.

What needs to be seen is whether PAPs will agree with this offer since they have been asking for more land, money, and other benefits such as jobs etc.  

Chavan is also looking forward to talk to affected farmers who were opposing the mega infra projects in the state, including the proposed Navi Mumbai airport.

For quite some time now, the rehabilitation of 10 villages occupying 291 hectares needed for the project has been the only hurdle left before the airport, which has got all the Centre’s clearances. This problem now shows promise of getting solved.