Govt revises compensation for Bhogapuram Airport oustees

Visakhapatnam: In a bid to woo land owners, the AP government has approved a higher compensation package than provided under the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act 2013 for payment to the concerned land owners of Gudepuvalasa, Kancheru and Kavulavada of Bhogapuram mandals for the proposed Bhogapuram International Airport in Vizianagaram district.
The three villages combined would contribute 1,409.84 acres for the Bhogapuram International Airport project of which 565.84 acres are in Kavulavada village, 465.96 acres in Gudepuvalasa village and 378.04 acres in Kancheru village of Bhogapuram mandal.
The state government has approved the proposal for higher compensation package following a state-level committee meeting held earlier this month in which the compensation was fixed at Rs33 lakh per acre as against the original proposal of Rs22.17 lakh per acre in Gudepuvalasa village, Rs28 lakh per acre as against original proposal of Rs18.68 lakh for Kavulavada village, and Rs28 lakh per acre as against original proposal of Rs18.80 lakh per acre in Kancheru village excluding the value of trees and structures in the mandal.
Land owners were in disagreement with the district administration over the initial compensation package offered to them. The state government on Thursday said, "The collector, Vizianagaram district, has also informed that the land owners are not willing to receive the compensation as per the above market value."