Goa: Farmers oppose survey for link road to Mopa airport, detained

PERNEM: Farmers from Pernem were taken into police custody for obstructing survey work at the site of the link road to Mopa international airport.
Farmers from Mopa and adjoining villages have been opposing the government plans to acquire additional land for the link road to the airport.
Tension rent the air when government officials started conducting land survey at Dadachiwadi, in Pernem.The farmers stopped the officials and shouted slogans against the government. They were taken into custody to Pernem police station in a police bus.
“Farmers’ land has been acquired at a very minimal rate of Rs 35 per sqm. Former chief minister Manohar Parrikar had promised to increase the rate by three times to Rs 105 per sqm, which is also too less. The government has acquired the land three times more than what is required. The government will transfer that land to gaming zone and five-star hotels at Rs 25,000 per sqm and more,” local politician Abhay Sawant said.
He said that peacefully protesting farmers were taken into four buses to Pernem and Mapusa police stations.
Locals are of the opinion that the government has already acquired land for the airport and there is no need for more land acquisition.
More than 80 lakh sqm land has already been acquired for the airport and work is being undertaken by the GMR group.