PANAJI: The villagers from three villages of Ximechi Advan, Tulaskar Wadi and Nanechewadi in Pernem taluka have strongly opposed to the recent notification issued by the government to acquire another 6.69 lakh square metre of land for the Mopa airport.

The agitating villagers from the three villages on Wednesday called on the special land acquisition officer for the Mopa airport, Mr M K Vasta to question the rationale behind issuing the fresh notification when the Advocate General had assured the Goa bench of the Bombay High Court that the government would not acquire more land for the airport project. The government has issued the notification under sections 4 and 5 of the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring additional land at Mopa.

The angry villagers said the government has given just 30 days for the people to raise their objections.

When they first marched to the land acquisition office in the city they found it closed, which further infuriated them. They later called Mr Vasta over the phone and questioned him as how would the people raise their objections when the office is closed.

Later Mr Vasta reached his office and the villagers grilled him on the additional land acquisition. Mr Vasta said that he was only carrying out the process of land acquisition for the government and that he has no say in the matter. He, however, added that he could convey the sentiments of the people to the higher authorities. The officer asked the villagers to submit a memorandum listing out their demands.

The villagers pointed out that the 6.6 lakh square metres of land, which the government proposes to acquire, is farmland and forestland and that a total of 15,000 people would get displaced due to the land acquisition for the Mopa airport. They questioned, "What is the use of destroying the fields and forests for the airport?"

The anguished villagers asked the land acquisition officer whether the government had a roadmap to rehabilitate the people who would be displaced by the project.

Mr Vasta replied that there were no provisions as of now and added that the government had made a provisional award for compensating the landowners.

The villagers said that they would consider parting with their land only if the government gives them land elsewhere and added that they do not want to beg before the authorities for a living. They observed they would not benefit from the new airport as they are not educated. The villagers alleged that the government is forcing them to part with their land and is misleading the people on the land acquisition.