Maharashtra
,
Rajgurunagar
,
Pune
Published : 12 July, 2014   |   Last updated - 24 Jun, 2024
Farmers Demand More Compensation for Pune International Airport, Government Changes Site to Purandar
Reported by
Prerna Chaurashe
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Updated by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
900
People Affected
2002
Year started
1800
Land area affected
Households affected
900
People Affected
2002
Year started
1800
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Airport
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

The project to build a new greenfield international airport at Rajgurunagar has been pending for the past 14 years. It aims to reduce air traffic at the Lohegaon airport and fulfil Pune's need for strong international connectivity. Discussions to set up the new airport began in 2002. Earlier, it was to be constructed near Askhed Budrukh, Koye, Kurunde and Piet villages. This area is 20 kilometres from the present site in Khed subdivision. Ever since it was proposed, the project has faced strong opposition from farmers of the adjoining areas who will have to vacate their land for the new airport. Construction of the airport requires 40 per cent government land and 60 per cent private land. In August 2012, the Maharashtra government allocated INR 200 crore to acquire 1,800 hectares. Of this, 1,200 hectares were set aside to construct the airport, comprising two parallel runways. The remaining 600 hectares were allocated for airport amenities, commercial development and to rehabilitate the farmers and other projectaffected persons. The government land belonged to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, which was handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, the airport planning authority. The project received clearance from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also announced on social media that an AAI team would visit the site for preliminary study on September 2, 2016. However, the farmers of Khed and Shirur subdistricts organised a protest in August that year. They said that the land was acquired earlier for Khed Special Economic Zone and, therefore, it was 'illegal' to change the original status of the land and build an airport. While the government reportedly acquired land from the farmers at INR 17 lakh per hectare, it allegedly sold the same to entrepreners at a whopping INR 3 crore per hectare. The farmers, therefore, demanded more compensation than what they had received and said they would continue to oppose the project until their compensation issue was settled. In October 2016, the chief minister declared the change of site for the airport to Purandar in Pune district. When journalists questioned him about the Rajgurunagar site, he said only the newly proposed site in Purandar has been approved by the AAI.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Refusal to give up land for the project

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Private

What was the action taken by the police?

Arrest

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

22

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Released from arrest

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

No

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

They were produced before a magistrate, but there was a delay beyond 24 hours

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

First they were detained, then later they were arrested.

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 151, 107, 116

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

Neither were they informed, nor did they have access

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Yes

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

They were not allowed to consult a lawyer.

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

https://www.kractivist.org/immediate-release-medha-patkar-and-activists-detained-in-chindwada-start-satyagraha/

Status of Project

Project underway despite protests

Original Project Deadline

2026

Whether the Project has been Delayed

No

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

200

Type of investment:

Investment Made

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

Yes

When did it end?

October, 2016

Why did the conflict end?

Author
Reported by
Prerna Chaurashe

Maharashtra

Kumar Sambhav is a social entrepreneur and award-winning journalist, leading innovative research in accountability investigations. He is the founder of Land Conflict Watch and is currently working as India Research Lead with Princeton University’s Digital Witness Lab.

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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Refusal to give up land for the project

Farmers Demand More Compensation for Pune International Airport, Government Changes Site to Purandar

Reported by

Prerna Chaurashe

Legal Review by

Edited by

Updated by

Updated by

Published on

September 11, 2016

May 17, 2022

Edited on

September 11, 2016

Sector

Infrastructure

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Airport

Starting Year

2002

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

1800

ha

Households Affected by Conflict

People Affected by Conflict

900

State

Maharashtra

Sector

Infrastructure

People Affected by Conflict

900

Households Affected by Conflict

Land Area Affected (in Hectares)

1800

ha

Starting Year

2002

Location of Conflict

Rajgurunagar

Pune

Reason or Cause of Conflict

Airport

Land Conflict Summary

The project to build a new greenfield international airport at Rajgurunagar has been pending for the past 14 years. It aims to reduce air traffic at the Lohegaon airport and fulfil Pune's need for strong international connectivity. Discussions to set up the new airport began in 2002. Earlier, it was to be constructed near Askhed Budrukh, Koye, Kurunde and Piet villages. This area is 20 kilometres from the present site in Khed subdivision. Ever since it was proposed, the project has faced strong opposition from farmers of the adjoining areas who will have to vacate their land for the new airport. Construction of the airport requires 40 per cent government land and 60 per cent private land. In August 2012, the Maharashtra government allocated INR 200 crore to acquire 1,800 hectares. Of this, 1,200 hectares were set aside to construct the airport, comprising two parallel runways. The remaining 600 hectares were allocated for airport amenities, commercial development and to rehabilitate the farmers and other projectaffected persons. The government land belonged to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, which was handed over to the Maharashtra Airport Development Company, the airport planning authority. The project received clearance from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis had also announced on social media that an AAI team would visit the site for preliminary study on September 2, 2016. However, the farmers of Khed and Shirur subdistricts organised a protest in August that year. They said that the land was acquired earlier for Khed Special Economic Zone and, therefore, it was 'illegal' to change the original status of the land and build an airport. While the government reportedly acquired land from the farmers at INR 17 lakh per hectare, it allegedly sold the same to entrepreners at a whopping INR 3 crore per hectare. The farmers, therefore, demanded more compensation than what they had received and said they would continue to oppose the project until their compensation issue was settled. In October 2016, the chief minister declared the change of site for the airport to Purandar in Pune district. When journalists questioned him about the Rajgurunagar site, he said only the newly proposed site in Purandar has been approved by the AAI.

Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Demand for more compensation than promised

Refusal to give up land for the project

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Private

Type of Common Land

What was the action taken by the police?

Arrest

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

22

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Released from arrest

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

No

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

No

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

They were produced before a magistrate, but there was a delay beyond 24 hours

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

First they were detained, then later they were arrested.

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 151, 107, 116

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

Neither were they informed, nor did they have access

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Yes

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

They were not allowed to consult a lawyer.

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

https://www.kractivist.org/immediate-release-medha-patkar-and-activists-detained-in-chindwada-start-satyagraha/

Status of Project

Project underway despite protests

Original Project Deadline

2026

Whether the Project has been Delayed

No

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Agricultural land

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

200

Type of investment:

Investment Made

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

Yes

When did it end?

October, 2016

Why did the conflict end?

Legal Data

Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict

Land Acquisition Laws, Central/State Government Policy, Other

Legislations/Policies Involved

Environmental Impact Assessment Notification, 2006
Section 7(i)(III) [This section requires a public consultation process which failed to take into account grievances of affected villagers]; Section 9 [This provision relates to the period of validity of environmental clearance, and permits extension up to a maximum period of 5 years]; Section 10 [This section states that the environmental clearance order with its environmental conditions and safeguards are published on its website as well as in newspapers]
National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
Section 18(2)(e) [This section empowers any aggrieved person or any representative body to file an application for grant of relief]
Land Acquisition Act, 1894
Section 4 [This section requires publication of preliminary notification about the project]; Section 5A [This section empowers any interested party to raise objections to land acquisition]; Section 23 [This section clarifies the process of determining compensation]
Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996
Section 3: Part IX of the Constitution relating to Panchayats will apply to Scheduled Areas; Section 4(e): Prior approval of gram sabha required for projects for social and economic development in Scheduled areas
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Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute

What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?

What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?

Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:

No items found.

Legal Status:

Out of Court

Status of Case In Court

Whether any adjudicatory body was approached

Name of the adjudicatory body

Name(s) of the Court(s)

Case Number

Main Reasoning/Decision of court

Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:

No items found.

Reported Details of the Violation:

Date of Violation

Location of Violation

Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, Maharashtra Airport Development Company

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana

Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

Arrest

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

22

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Released from arrest

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

No

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

They were produced before a magistrate, but there was a delay beyond 24 hours

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

First they were detained, then later they were arrested.

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Indian Penal Code, 1860

Section 151, 107, 116

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

Neither were they informed, nor did they have access

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Yes

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

They were not allowed to consult a lawyer.

Resources

Resources Related to Conflict

  • News Articles Related to the Conflict:
  • Documents Related to the Conflict:
  • Links Related to the Conflict:

Images

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Video

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