PANAJI: The government will complete hearing as regards the Sections IX and X of the Land Acquisition Act 1894, for the proposed Mopa international airport by the end of this month.

Coming out with this information, the special land acquisition officer (SLAO) for Mopa international airport, Mr M K Vasta told the reporters on Wednesday that the related award is also under preparation. "We have already completed the paperwork of the award for four out of the six villages," he added.

The land acquisition for the Greenfield airport project includes acquisition of 74,99,490 sq mt of land for the airport and acquisition of another 8,84,812 sq mt of land for the construction of approach road to the airport.

The break up of acquisition of 74,99,490 sq mt of land for the airport is as follows: Altogether 13,23,926 sq mt of land in Kansarvarnem village, 22,14,479 sq mt of land in Varkhand village, 23,64,115 sq mt of land in Mopa village, 2,87,725 sq mt of land in Amberem village, 4,50,935 sq mt of land in Uguvem village and finally, 8,58,310 sq mt of land in Chandel village.

Speaking further, Mr Vasta informed, "The high level steering committee for the Mopa international airport had decided that the initially proposed width of 116 metres for the approach road to the airport be reduced to 60 metres." "This decision of the HLSC has substantially reduced the requirement for acquisition of 8,84,812 sq metres of land for the construction of approach road to the airport," he maintained, pointing out that a re-survey of the area for approach road is in progress and soon notices would be issued in this regard.

Mr Vasta further mentioned that there exist a number of patches in the area to be acquired for the airport, with such patches being already notified. "However, the process to acquire land for the proposed Mopa international airport is pending before the High Court of Bombay at Goa," he added, noting, "The court has given direction that no possession of land should be taken until a decision on the matter is reached."

Replying to a question, Mr Vasta said that land acquisition for the airport project was initiated under Section 6 of the Land Acquisition Act, 1894. He also stated that the government has fixed the price for acquisition of land for the Mopa airport at the rate of approximately Rs 60 per sq mt. It may be recalled that some of the locals have already expressed their apprehension about agricultural land being destroyed and houses being razed to make way for the state-of-the-art airport in North Goa.