By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Chief Minister Dr Mukul Sangma on Wednesday said that the Union Ministry of Defence is positive over transferring of defence land in the city for public use.
Informing about his meeting with Union Defence Minister, AK Antony, and his Deputy, Jitender Singh, the Chief Minister, who is currently in Delhi, expressed confidence that the matter would be resolved soon to allow the State Government to take possession of the defense land for developmental purpose.
“The Government has been making efforts to get back certain stretches of the defence land in the heart of the city to ease the congestion,” the Chief Minister said, while pointing out that several projects remain in limbo due to non transfer of land by the defense establishment.
The Chief Minister also informed that the Union Minister of State for Defence has expressed his keenness to visit the State to get a grasp of things at the ground level.
“He (Singh) would like to undertake a trip to Shillong and hold discussions with the State Government as well as the defence officials based here to have a better inside on the whole issue,” Dr Sangma said.
It may be reminded that during the recent budget session of the State Assembly, Deputy Chief Minister in charge of Revenue and Disaster Management, Prof RC Laloo, had informed that the defence authorities have agreed to part with 32 acres of land for the expansion of the Shillong Airport at Umroi and another 0.33 square km of land for a fly over from Shillong Cantonment area provided that the State Government hands over equal share of land elsewhere to the defence authorities.