Residents of Dungi village, which is outside the core area of the proposed Navi Mumbai International Airport, have received City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) approval for their rehabilitation.
During last year's monsoon, the village was flooded on account of land filling work for the airport. “The proposal has been passed during the board meeting held on June 7. Dungi's villagers will be receiving a package equivalent to that of others affected by the airport,” said Priya Ratambe, CIDCO public relations officer.
Situated at the boundary of the proposed airport, Dungi villagers had organised protests and written to CIDCO in October last year after monsoon had flooded the area. Farmers from the village who usually sow crops between June and September, were not able to do so last year due to the flooding. “This year too, it will be the same. While our demands have been met, the process will take time, which means this monsoon too, we will have to face floods,” Vikas Naik, a resident of Dungi village said. “There was water inside and outside our house. We are afraid of a similar fate this year.”
The villagers said they were shown an area at Pushpak Nagar wherein they would be rehabilitated, but Mr. Naik said they had asked for more options.
The villagers are also worried about the timeline. “The survey of our houses is pending. CIDCO will provide us money for 18 months' rent as per the scheme but for us to shift out, the survey needs to be finished,” Mr. Naik said.
Meanwhile, a CIDCO official from the Rehabilitation and Resettlement Department said they have written to the Raigad collector, who will come for the survey.