Land allotment: Port trust gives in to villagers’ demands

Angry villagers whose land was acquired for developing the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) may have some reason to cheer.

Angry villagers whose land was acquired for developing the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) may have some reason to cheer.

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The Port authorities have finally relented to their demands and on Tuesday announced distribution of land under the 12.5% to the project-affected persons (PAPs).

The farmers had planned to launch a statewide stir to protest indifference of the Port authorities. Under the state government's scheme, PAPs get 12.5% developed land of the total land given up by them for the project, apart from monetary benefit.

The locals had been seeking implementation of the scheme for years and had planned a massive stir from March 23 to press for their demand.

According to JK Mhatre, assistant manager (marketing), JNPT, “It was in response to the planned agitation that a meeting was held in Delhi on March 22 between GK Vasan, Union minister of shipping, Sharad Pawar, Union minister for agriculture and food processing industries, and Sunil Tatkare, state minister for water resources.”

Mhatre said, “A decision has been taken to allot 12.5% land as per norms to the JNPT project-affected persons in one block near Phunde village, in Uran Taluka.”

“The district collector of Raigad district has been asked to initiate the process of allotment of land under the said scheme to those eligible to avail benefit.”