Mumbai : A survey to ascertain eligibility of Project Affected People (PAPs) of the Mumbai Airport expansion project in Kurla area on the eastern fringes of the airport is finally underway.
According to a Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MRRDA) official, the survey would be carried out in Kranti Nagar, Jari Mari, Sandesh Nagar and Sevak Nagar in Kurla area.
“The additional collector (encroachments removal) has started the survey of the four priority corridors of the airport area to rehabilitate slum-dwellers. The survey will determine the eligibility of PAPs and once the report is handed over to the government, MMRDA will provide tenements to them,” MMRDA spokesperson said. The survey, according to MMRDA officials, is expected to take around a month to complete. Earlier in May, officials had decided to carry out the survey but could not go ahead due to absence of police protection.
The project to resettle over 70,000 families occupying the airport land has remained stuck due to litigation and stiff opposition from locals. Evicting the slum-dwellers is critical to securing the airport against any terrorist threats from the slums. Last year in September, Civil Aviation Ministry had written to the Maharashtra government asking them to expedite rehabilitation as security threat to the airport from the slum is grave.
17/07/15 Free Press Journal
