Saturday, October 03, 2015

Govt yet to issue notification for Mihan PAPs’ rehab

Times of India: Nagpur: Saturday, 03 October 2015.
The state cabinet had announced a Rs740 crore additional relief package for Mihan project affected persons (PAPs) with much fanfare in July 2015. Even though more than two months have passed, the government is yet to issue a notification in this regard. The PAPs, who have been denied their due, are now in agitation mode.
Natraj Pillai, the leader of the Mihan Prakalpgrast Punarvasan Samiti (MPPS), said that the PAPs had decided to conduct a peaceful agitation. "Rajkumar Pande will go to Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) office everyday and present a rose to the officials. He will be accompanied by Suresh Shambharkar and they will seek information under Right to Information (RTI) Act," he said adding that it was the job of MADC officials to know the latest status of the notification.
Pillai further said that some PAPs were living in dilapidated houses. "The houses have not been repaired for last 15 years because the PAPs knew that they would be relocated and the money spent on repairs will not be reimbursed by the government. If any accident happens, MADC and the government will be responsible," he said.
The PAP leader also charged MADC with apathy towards vocational training of PAPs. "MADC so far has signed agreements with 20 companies and hundreds of people have been recruited. But, not a single PAP has been given a job," he said.
Sanjay Bonde, a nominated BJP corporator of Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), who is a member of the samiti, said that he had talked to chief minister Devendra Fadnavis but did not get any information regarding the reasons for pendency of the notification. "If it comes to that, I will lead the agitation. The stir will be against the callous government officials. Our party does not stop us from agitating against the administration for public causes," he said.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the proposal was pending with the finance ministry. "It will issue the GR very soon," he said without giving reasons for the delay.
The government's apathy towards rehabilitation is delaying the Mihan project. The government was forced to go in for extra compensation as the remaining PAPs were not ready to relocate until they got satisfactory compensation.