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ABSOLUTE MAJORITY AGAINST MOPA STEPHEN DIAS It has been reported in some section of press that only 618 occupants/tenants at Mopa out of the 7,869 eligible recipients ( comes to 7.8%) have so far accepted compensation of a paltry Rs. 25/- to Rs. 80/- per square metre. Say about 10 percent of those are eligible. In a democracy, the will of the majority prevails as happens in an election. 90 percent of the occupants/tenants not accepting compensation is an absolute majority who would rather till their land than cause this hot-spot of bio-diversity from becoming a concrete jungle, bereft of its varied flora and fauna. The will of the absolute majority has to be respected. Their collective nod is against setting up of airport, period. Besides it is also known that the market value of land in Mopa is in the range of Rs. 4000/- to Rs. 4500/- per square metre. As such the occupants/tenants should not accept compensation as they are literally being cheated of the market value which is their due. The government later by setting up the airport is going to generate huge sums of money on operation of the airport. Why should the occupants/tenants not get a one time true value of compensation considering that they will have to part with their land for good. Stephen Dias Dona Paula 10th Jan 2016
