Pune: Land Acquisition for Purandar Airport Begins Under ‘Pass Through Method’
The Maharashtra government has approved the land acquisition process for the proposed Purandar Airport under the ‘pass through method,’ marking a significant step forward for the long-pending project. A total of 2,823 hectares of land will be acquired from seven villages in Purandar taluka, with 2,753.053 hectares from private landowners and an additional 70 hectares from the state forest department.
State Industrial Minister Uday Samant announced the decision following a high-power committee meeting, stating that the land will be acquired at five times the ready reckoner rates to ensure fair compensation for farmers. The Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) will oversee the acquisition process, which has been pending for several years.
The government has issued two notifications under the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act, 1961, declaring the areas in villages Vanpuri, Kumbharvalan, Udhachaiwadi, Ekhatpur, Munjavadi, Khanavdi, and Pargaon as an ‘industrial area.’ The acquisition process will involve close collaboration with villagers, and no strict deadline has been set, as it depends on the cooperation of landowners.
Despite concerns over the lack of budget allocation for land acquisition in Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s recent budget, the issuance of notifications signals the government’s readiness to move forward with the project.
