– Chief Minister interacts with representatives of villages affected by Purandar Airport project
• Consideration to offer maximum possible compensation for land acquisition for Purandar Airport
• A grand statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj to be installed in the airport
• Skill Development Centre to be set up for children of project-affected farmers; priority in jobs
• Project-affected persons to be given special “Project Affected Certificate”
Mumbai :- Several industries are keen to invest in Pune, and the proposed Purandar Airport will play a crucial role in this regard. The airport will significantly boost industrial development in Pune and surrounding areas. It will not be merely a passenger airport, but also a cargo airport, making it especially useful for trade in perishable goods. The project will greatly benefit citizens of Purandar and nearby areas and is expected to increase Pune’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by at least two percent, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated today.
The Chief Minister held an interaction with residents of the seven villages affected by the Purandar Airport project. Former Minister Vijay Shivtare, Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) O. P. Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport) Sanjay Sethi, Principal Secretary (Industries) P. Anbalagan, CEO of Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation P. Velarasu, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi, and representatives of the affected villages were present.
Maximum compensation for land acquisition
Chief Minister Fadnavis said that the Purandar Airport is vital for the development of Maharashtra and Pune. To ensure the project’s viability, the State Government will take a decision to provide maximum possible compensation to farmers for land acquired for the airport, after considering all aspects in detail.
All benefits related to Transferable Development Rights (TDR) will be extended under the proposed Aerocity project at Purandar. Children of project-affected farmers will be given 100 percent priority in employment. After finalising land acquisition rates, a Skill Development Centre will be started for local youth to impart training aligned with industry requirements. He also announced that cases registered during earlier agitations related to the project will be withdrawn.
Top priority to rehabilitation
The Chief Minister emphasized that proper rehabilitation of farmers and citizens affected by the project will be accorded the highest priority. With the objective of providing long-term security to farmers and their future generations, compensation higher than the original land value will be considered. Therefore, the State Government has decided not to rely solely on ready reckoner rates, but to finalise land acquisition rates through negotiations.
In earlier CIDCO projects, benefits of 22.5 percent were provided, and the government is striving to offer even higher benefits for the Purandar Airport project.
Rehabilitation of affected families will take into account family structure, with additional space for adult children. Suitable solutions will also be worked out for issues related to sisters’ shares. Special measures will be explored for small and landless farmers. The Chief Minister noted that this will be the first project in the State where compensation will be provided along with alternative land.
Statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and other decisions
A grand statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj will be erected in the Purandar Airport area. Restrictions on previously acquired additional land will be removed. The government will also consider making farmers stakeholders in the project. Appropriate decisions will be taken regarding rehabilitation of gaothan (village settlements).
Project-affected persons will be issued special Project Affected Certificates. Discussions will also be held to resolve issues related to compensation for horticultural trees. Additionally, the State Government is considering the establishment of a separate corporation for all project-affected persons across Maharashtra.
The Chief Minister clarified that all projects implemented by the State Government after 2014 have been solely for the development of the State and in the interest of citizens. There is no intention to render any farmer landless. Experience from the Navi Mumbai Airport project has shown that airports create vast opportunities in agriculture, industry and trade in surrounding areas. Similarly, the Purandar Airport will certainly benefit farmers and residents of the region, he added.
On the occasion, Pune District Collector Jitendra Dudi briefed the gathering on actions taken so far for the Purandar Airport project, while representatives of the affected villages presented their demands and memoranda.