The Hindu Business Line : Meeting reviews airport projects in Maharashtra

Mumbai, Aug. 25 Speedy completion of the Multimodal International Hub Airport or MIHAN at Nagpur dominated the closed door meetings held between the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, the Maharshtra Chief Minister, Mr Vilasrao Deshmukh and senior officials from Maharashtra Airport Development Co Ltd (MADC) and Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation here on Saturday.

“The Union Cabinet is soon expected to give its approval for a joint venture between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and MADC,” said Mr Patel, speaking to reporters after the meeting. “Once that is done the two parties would look for a strategic partner for the development of MIHAN on the lines of Delhi and Mumbai airports.”

Though the minister seemed to be keen on early completion of the project, the final decision on compensation for the project-affected farmers still remains unresolved. While the State Government is offering around Rs 1.5 lakh per hectare as rehabilitation to around 20,000 families , farmers are asking for Rs 30 lakh per hectare, given the rising cost of land in the surrounding area.

“The government has in principle agreed to allot to the displaced persons 12.5 per cent of the land acquired from them,” said the Minister of New and Renewable Energy and Member of Parliament from Nagpur, Mr Vilas Muttemwar, who was also present at the meeting. (The allotment has to be sorted out in terms of whether the land would be close to the airport area or at an alternative site).

“However, on the cash component of the compensation a committee headed by the Additional Chief Secretary of Maharshtra, Mr Ramanand Tiwari would soon take a decision,” Mr. Muttemwar said.

Of the total area of 4,000 hectares marked for Nagpur project, the Government has released 1,935 hectares for the project, with 2,065 hectares still remaining.

In addition to MIHAN, the Navi Mumbai and Pune airport projects were also taken up for review.

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Meeting reviews airport projects in Maharashtra

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