DUNGI VILLAGERS COMPLAIN OF FLOODS FOR 4TH STRAIGHT YEAR

URAN: There is no respite for the residents of Dungi village, located close to the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) project. The village has been flooded for the fourth consecutive year, despite repeated assurances by Cidco of preventive action being taken. The villagers have now threatened massive protests and stoppage of all Cidco work. They demanded a rehabilitation package on par with that of the NMIA PAPs and also compensation for their losses.

Landfilling at the airport site has led to flooding of Dungi and nearby villages over the years following incessant rains. The same happened during the recent heavy rains.

Reena Patil, a 30-year-old local resident, lamented, “It is getting worse every year as our homes get flooded. The entire village will drown soon. Will Cidco wake up only after we are all dead in the flood?

“Nobody cares for us. Cidco did not even bother to check if we need food or any other help. The Collector and other officials came a day later after the village was flooded but nothing concrete has happened.”

Another resident, 35-year-old Kumud Gharat, said, “Every year, Cidco says that corrective action has been taken but we do not see any difference. Our homes are destroyed every year and we are suffering huge losses.

“Our patience is now running out and we will soon launch a massive protest against Cidco and stop all work in the region if concrete measures are not taken immediately and if we are not compensated for our losses.”

Vikas Naik, former deputy sarpanch of Dungi village, said, “Our village is located just 100m from the airport project site. The Cidco road runs next to our zilla parishad school. However, Cidco says our village does not fall in the core area and hence we are not eligible for the package given to the 10 NMIA-affected villages.

“We are equally affected by the project and Cidco has to understand this and change its rigid stance. We should get the same rehabilitation package that has been given to the airport PAPs who have been shifted from their respective areas.”

Cidco PRO, Priya Ratambe, said, “Cidco had undertaken all pre-monsoon works at Dungi village. Due to heavy rains, the flood situation has occurred.”