The farmers whose land was acquired for developing Birsi Airport in Gondia have been allotted plots after about 15 years. The affected farmers had threatened to build houses near the airstrip to press for their demand of rehabilitation.
Birsi, about 12 kms in north-east of Gondia was selected for developing the airport and pilot training centre way back in 2005. The initiative was taken by the then Civil Aviation Minister and Gondia MP Praful Patel.
The process of acquiring land from 106 farmers started and in 2009 they were assured a compensation of Rs 9 lakhs and a plot for building their houses. As the plots were not allotted to them they had threatened to start building their house on their original land at Birsi Airport. The issue was sorted out and on Tuesday they were allotted land.
Some of them have demanded more money as valuation was done in 2009 and the cost of construction and land has increased. Some of them have demanded Rs 25 lakh for the construction of a new house on the allotted plots.
