Purandar airport: Bombay HC backs existing site, farmers’ plea dismissed

The Bombay High Court has dismissed a petition filed by three farmers seeking a change in the proposed site of the Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje Greenfield International Airport at Purandar, clearing the way for the Maharashtra government to proceed with land acquisition.

The division bench of justices Suman Shyam and Advait M Sethna dismissed the petition on Tuesday. The petitioners own agricultural land across seven villages affected by the proposed airport.

The court held that the petitioners had failed to establish statutory violations in the acquisition process. It said the selection of a site for a major public infrastructure project involves technical and operational considerations and is a matter for the authorities and experts concerned.

The court also said farmers who have grievances over land acquisition or compensation can approach the competent authorities in accordance with the law.

The state government informed the court that 96 per cent of farmers in Vanpuri, Kumbharvalan, Udachiwadi, Ekhathpur, Munjewadi, Khanwadi and Pargaon had already given their consent to the acquisition.

So far, 910 hectares have been acquired and approximately Rs 3,875 crore has been paid as compensation to landowners.

The district administration has extended the deadline for farmers to give consent from September 25 to October 10, with the government aiming to complete the acquisition process by October 20.

Officials said land for which consent is not received by October 10 will be acquired compulsorily. Landowners opting for consent-based acquisition are eligible for rehabilitation benefits under the applicable policy.

Pune district collector Jitendra Dudi has appealed to farmers to submit consent within the extended deadline. He said those opting for consent-based acquisition would receive a 10 per cent return along with other benefits under the rehabilitation policy.

The court’s order removes the latest legal challenge seeking a change to the selected site, allowing the state to continue with the next stages of land acquisition for the long-delayed airport project.