Wahal project- hit people to take Pushpak Nagar plots

CBD BELAPUR: The rehabilitation of the Navi Mumbai international airport project- affected people (PAP) has got a fillip with land reclamation speeding up in Wahal, where PAP farmers will be allocated plot as per the 22.5% scheme. The PAP will be provided plot in sectors—24, 25, 25 A in Wahal.

Residents of Wahal village, whose plots have been acquired by the City Industrial and Development Corporation (Cidco) for the airport, had recently demanded they should be provided plot as per the 22.5% scheme in Ulwe instead of Pushpak Nagar.

Around 108 farmers from the village have submitted consent letters to Cidco allowing it to acquire their plots. Cidco had conducted draws to distribute land to the airport PAP in Pushpak Nagar near Ulwe as compensation.

Some PAP f ar mers f rom Wahal found their name on the list of PAP to be allocated plot in Pushpak Nagar. Upset, Wahal residents refused to accept the plot in Pushpak Nagar at a meet held in the presence of APMC chair- man Rajendra Patil and Wahal sarpanch Ravi Patil.

Patil threatened villagers will not allow land reclamation in Wahal, if Cidco fails to provide a plot to them in Ulwe. A proposal to this effect was passed at the meet by the Wahal gram panchayat. The proposal was then sent to Cidco. The villagers also informed Cidco’s chief engineer Sanjay Choudhari about their demand.

A PAP, on condition of anonymity, said, “Pushpak Nagar is yet to be developed, while Ulwe has been developed and property rates in the node has gone up considerably after the airport project has been announced.”

Cidco senior public relations officer Mohan Ninawe said, “We are aware of the Wahal residents’ demand. We held a meeting with them to discuss the issue.”

He added, “We explained to them how Pushpak Nagar will be a goldmine for them and have convinced them to agree to our plan.”