Pune: “There is a need to define a compensation policy for project affected people (PAP) of Bhama Askhed project,” said District Collector Saurabh Rao. He said there were 1,313 PAP in the project of which compensation in terms of land was allotted to some farmers. However, the remaining farmers who were not compensated went to court as there was not much land remaining for compensation of all farmers.
“The government should define the compensation policy for the PAP. Either the PAP’s can be paid on the basis of ready reckoner rate or adequate land should be allocated to them. We have written to the government to define a compensation policy on the issue. The decision taken by the government will be a historic one,” added Rao.
Recently in a protest, Laxmanrao Pasalkar, member of one of the organisations fighting for rights of the PAP, said around 1,400 farmers are yet to be compensated and the PAP’s are not happy as the authorities are offering money based on current ready reckoner rate, which they feel is less.
Vijay Shivtare, Minister of State for Water Resources and Water Conservation had earlier said the dam was built for irrigation, but now the water of the dam is used by Pune civic bodies and so the government has not formed a compensation policy.
Rao said a meeting with government officials will be held to find a solution for defining the compensation policy.
