the goan I network
PANAJI
Affected farmers who lost land to the proposed Mopa greenfield international airport are angry with the authorities for delaying payment of compensation to them for more than 18 months after their lands were acquired.
Initially the government had finalized lower rates but following appeals from the land-losers a three-time hike in compensation for the farmers was approved but it is yet to materialise. Multiple visits to the office over the last one-and-half years and they are yet to receive the money, lamented Viraj Parab.
The State government had acquired a whopping 780-odd hectares of land from five villages for the Mopa international airport.
At the start they were awarded a petty Rs 40-80 per sq metre but later, following appeals, the government hiked the compensation to almost three times the orignal award. Now, the land losers are entitled to up to Rs 120 to 140 per sq metre.
Several of the land losers, meanwhile, faced difficulty in claiming the compensation either due to loss in property documents, family matters and in some cases no succession deeds as those against whose names the property was registered had long passed away.
Land has been acquired by the government from the villages of Mopa, Chandel, Ugvem, Kasarvane and Varkahand for the Mopa airport.
Meanwhile, although the government hiked compensation to up to Rs 240 per square meter, the land is actually valued much higher.
At market values, no land is available at rates lower than Rs 500 per square meter even in the most remote areas of Goa. The Government has only shown hopes to farmers in the name of Mopa airport, said Parab.
“No one is opposing development but local farmers are raising questions as to how the government can dupe farmers in the name of development. My family has lost 72 acres of land and now we have to keep visiting government departments for the compensation,” Parab complained.
The government should have shown some concern for the farmers who gave up their lands for the airport but with the authorities’ lackadaisical attitude, we can now only blame our fate, said Parab.
He said, it has now been done and approved by Chief Minister who has sent the file to the finance department.
“Mopa farmers will certainly be paid the compensation soon. They should have some patience,” Shanbag said.
