Who is on the wrong – PAPs or
govt?
The project affected persons (PAPs) of the proposed
Nhava Sheva-Sewri sea link have demanded that the state government give them a
package similar to the one being offered to the PAPs of the proposed Navi
Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) project. But the PAPs of the proposed NMIA
project are still not happy with the government’s latest offer. If this is
going to be the attitude of the PAPs even in the future they stand to lose a
golden opportunity. This attitude of PAP might prompt the government to shift
the airport project to some other place and this will deny the Navi Mumbai residents
of an airport.
In the mater
of NMIA project, it is difficult to know whether the PAPs are acting adament or
the government is acting miserly. But somewhere a compromise should be made and
that too very soon or else there are chances of Navi Mumbai residents turning
out to be the losers. PAPs must not display a selfish attitude and should think
in terms of the interest of all the Navi Mumbai residents. PAPs should think
with an open mind whether the latest offer made by the state government is
worth accepting and come to a decision at the earliest before the government
changes its mind.
Now that the PAPs of Nhava Sheva-Sewri sea link are
also demanding a similar package as that offered to NMIA project’s PAPs, the
government might find itself in a situation where it might find it necessary to
change its mind in the matter of the latest offer that it is making to the
airport project’s PAPs. So the PAPs of airport project should grab this golden
opportunity immediately.
The state government will be acquiring the land from
Jasai, Gavhan, Chirle, Shelghar, and other villages for the sea link project. The PAPs from these areas are demanding
a proper rate and satisfactory
rehabilitation. The latest offer laid down by the government beofre the PAPs of
airport project have made their mouths to water and hence they are insisting
that they get a package similar to the one offered to the NMIA project PAPs, so
the sons-of-the-soil will be benefitted and their future is secured. The 22-km
Nhava Sheva-Sewri sea link project is expected to cost over Rs 1,100 crore and
will include the construction of five flyovers.
According to a state government official, the rate
demanded by the PAPs is high, therefore constructing an airport in the sea is
feasible. According to him it will be easier to construct the airport on sea
than on land. Since the state government and CIDCO are facing a lot of
difficulties in procuring land for the ambitious project, it will be viable for
them to consider constructing the international airport on the sea on the lines
of the one constructed in Osaka, Japan. It will be economically feasible since
the state government will not have to go through the process of acquiring land,
thereby reducing the cost of the project considerably.
A major
hurdle in acquiring land for the NMIA project is the adamant stand of the PAPs
whose demands are too high. They are not budging from their stand. If the state
government agrees to PAPs’ demands, the cost of NMIA project will increase
considerably, thereby making it economically unviable, following which Navi Mumbaikars
will lose the opportunity of having a huge infrastructure such as this in their
surrounding. Now if the PAPs
continue to remain adamant and if the government changes its mind and decides
to construct the airport on the sea or somewhere else, then who will be the
losers? Think about it!
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