India, Sept. 18 -- Land acquisition for the proposed Purandar International Airport has reached a crucial stage wherein farmers who do not submit their consent letters by Thursday, September 18, will have their land acquired forcibly without the additional compensation benefits promised to those who voluntarily part with their land.

According to the Pune district administration, farmers have been given time till Thursday, September 18, to submit their consent letters after which, the administration will begin joint land measurement within the next week.

The land acquisition drive, which began on August 25, has so far received significant response. Around 2,200 farmers have consented to parting with 2,250 acres of land. The government ha...