Pune Farmers Push for Review of Demands Before Purandar Airport Compensation Finalization
In Pune, farmers likely to be impacted by the greenfield Purandar airport project have urgently called for a review of their demands before the district administration finalizes the compensation package. This move comes more than three months after the state government announced that Rs1 crore per acre would be provided for land acquisition for the proposed facility.
Urgency Amid Funding Directive and Project Scope
The issue gained significant urgency following a recent directive from the state government on Tuesday, which instructed the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) to arrange approximately Rs6,000 crore for land acquisition. The Purandar airport project involves the acquisition of land from seven villages in Purandar taluka of Pune district: Vanpuri, Kumbhar Valan, Udachiwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjawadi, Khanwadi, and Pargaon.
District administration officials are anticipating the funds for land acquisition from the MIDC next month, after which the final compensation package is expected to be announced. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had previously assured landowners of the best possible compensation, but farmers are now emphasizing the need for their input to be considered.
Farmers' Key Demands and Advocacy Efforts
Representatives of the farmers have stressed that their demands, submitted to the district administration after expressing willingness to part with their land, must be integrated into the final compensation framework. They informed TOI on Wednesday that they plan to write to the Pune collector to reiterate these demands. "It is necessary to hear us out once again or consider our demands ahead of finalising the package," stated a farmers' representative from Pargaon.
Seeking parity with other infrastructure projects, the farmers have demanded compensation rates equivalent to those given for the ring road project, where landowners received significantly higher payouts than the Rs1 crore per acre rate. "We demand compensation at par with this project," emphasized a landowner.
Comprehensive Demands for Transparency and Support
The farmers have outlined a series of comprehensive demands to ensure fair treatment and long-term security:
- Transparency in the compensation package to avoid discrepancies and ensure clarity in the process.
- Land-for-land rehabilitation to provide alternative agricultural or residential plots for displaced families.
- Assured jobs and long-term livelihood support, including government or semi-government job opportunities for at least two members of each affected household.
- Skill development workshops to enhance employment prospects and economic stability for the impacted communities.
They have urged the government to make all decisions in consultation with the original landowners. In a proposed demand letter, they specified that any compensation or rehabilitation package should exclude investors who purchased land in the past three years. The framework should prioritize the standard of living of original cultivators, the future of the next generation, and principles of social justice.
Specific Requests for Housing and Development Benefits
One of the key demands includes the allotment of 35% developed plots with a Floor Space Index (FSI) of 5 to farmers whose land falls within the developed airport zone. Additionally, they have requested separate housing benefits for joint families living under one roof but holding different ration cards. "Such families should be provided with a 5-guntha plot each for house construction. This was put across to the administration," explained another landowner.
As the district administration prepares to receive funds and announce the final compensation, the farmers' push for a review highlights ongoing concerns about equity and sustainability in large-scale infrastructure projects. Their advocacy underscores the need for inclusive policies that address both immediate financial needs and long-term community welfare.
