Panvel: In a significant win for farmers in the Navi Mumbai Airport Influence Notified Area (NAINA), CIDCO has approved a drastic reduction in betterment charges from a maximum of 50% to just 0.05%. The decision, taken in a CIDCO Board of Directors meeting on Monday, March 3, comes after persistent efforts by Panvel MLA Prashant Thakur and Uran MLA Mahesh Baldi, who advocated for the farmers’ interests.
Farmers had strongly opposed the hefty betterment charges levied on the increased value of their land. Responding to their concerns, MLAs Thakur and Baldi took a firm stance, demanding a revision in the policy and a fair resolution. They had earlier insisted that until farmers’ issues were addressed, cooperation with the NAINA project would not be possible.
A crucial meeting was held on January 6 at CIDCO’s office, where both MLAs met with CIDCO Vice Chairman and Managing Director Vijay Singhal. During the discussions, they demanded not only a reduction in betterment charges but also a shift in the land-sharing policy from 40-60 to 50-50, an end to misinformation regarding demolitions in 42 villages, and the allocation of land parcels to farmers on their original plots.
Following these discussions, CIDCO assured a favorable decision, which was officially approved in Monday’s meeting. This move has brought significant relief to farmers and developers while also paving the way for long-stalled infrastructure projects in the region to gain momentum.
With this key issue now resolved, farmers have expressed satisfaction, and the decision marks a major success in securing their rights. MLAs Prashant Thakur and Mahesh Baldi have reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the interests of NAINA farmers remain a priority in all future developments.
