Jasai farmers go to HC, seek better compensation for land from Cidco ABOUT THE PROJECT

Farmers from Jasai and Chirle, whose land has been acquired for widening national highways 348 and 348A, have approached the Bombay Hight Court against the City and Industrial Development Corporation (Cidco) demanding compensation under the Centre’s Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act of 2013.

The land of farmers from Dhutum may also have to be acquired for the project, said officials. This could delay the National Highway Authority of India’s (NHAI) Rs2,600-crore road widening project to deal with increased traffic to and fro JNPT port, fear authorities.

The project-affected farmers had initially demanded 12.5% land as compensation from Cidco.

They eventually sought 22.5% land as compensation at par with what was being offered to airport project-affected people. With their demands still not being met, they have sought judicial intervention.

According to the farmers, the compensation being offered by Cidco is very less and so they should be compensated as per the market rate for their land.

Advocate Rahul Thakur, who has filed the writ petition in the court on behalf of the project-hit farmers, said, “The farmers are demanding they be compensated as per the government norms.”

“Our demand is that, the project-hit should get 20% developed land, 4 times the market value of the land as well as jobs,” added Thakur.

Cidco officials remained unavailable for comment.