Airport villagers likely to boycott Lok Sabha polls

Meetings are currently on between villagers of the six villages opposing the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) rehabilitation package, to take a call on boycotting the Lok Sabha elections. "We have no hope from the politicians. After the delimitation exercise in 2009, the Maval constituency came into existence and we have a Member of Parliament from the ghat region [referring to Pune's Pimpri-Chinchwad area] who has not shown any interest here nor has dealt with us to understand our problems and demands with regards to the airport project," said Mahendra Patil, who is representing villagers opposing the airport deal.

He added, "Internal discussions are on at present and we may boycott the upcoming polls, since no one has bothered to provide us good leadership. Same is the case for our MLAs – be it from Panvel or Uran - as even they have not supported us."

Navi Mumbai Antarrashtriya Vimantal Sangharash Samiti – a committee of six villages opposing the Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA) rehabilitation package – comprises professionals from these villages. The latter have taken up the matter with Cidco and the state government under the guidance of former Supreme Court judge Justice PB Sawant and former Bombay High Court judge BG Kolse-Patil. The new committee was formed after the villagers opposed the state government's package. Incidentally, the Prakalpagrast Sangharash Committee led by MLAs Prashant Thakur and Vivek Patil had agreed to that package.

The members also tried to get in touch with every political party and had decided to support only those parties that will raise their issue on the floor of the house. While the state government is willing to give 22.5% plot, the villagers are demanding 35% plot and a cash component.

"We are willing to accommodate and adjust some of our demands. We are not opposing the project, but the rehabilitation package," said Patil.