Rs.6.44 cr yet to be paid for land acquired for Shillong Airport expansion
UMROI: The Ri Bhoi Youth Federation (RBYF) on Wednesday expressed concern over the delay in the proposed expansion of Shillong Airport at Umroi due to non-payment of the compensation package by the State Government to the affected land owners.
The RBYF had also decided to file an RTI to find out the reason behind the delay in payment of compensation.
It may be mentioned that the State Government, through the Airports Authority of India (AAI), took possession of the land of over 200 people residing in Umroi in 2008 for the expansion of the Shillong Airport, but despite the fact that the AAI had released the compensation to the State Government for release to the affected land owners, the same was yet to be paid to the people.
The total amount of land compensation is Rs.11.44 crore.
The State Government had handed over 224 acres of land to the AAI for expansion of the runway from the existing 6000 feet to 7500 feet to facilitate landing of bigger aircraft, but the expansion plans are yet to be implemented.
The RBYF took the decision to file an RTI following their meeting with the affected land owners and representatives of the Dorbar Shnong of the concerned villages including Umden Mission, Umden Arka, Nongrah and others.
It was clarified during the meeting that the land owners were not against the proposed expansion of the Airport but were only demanding their right to compensation which had been delayed by the Government till date for reasons best known to the authorities concerned.
The land owners also refuted the claims of the Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner that the entire amount of compensation had been cleared, and claimed that only Rs.5 crore had been paid as compensation till date while an amount of Rs.6.44 crore was still pending.
The RBYF urged the State Government to release the remaining amount of compensation to the land owners at the earliest so that the expansion of the Shillong Airport can begin soon, and also requested for construction of a motorable road outside the perimeter of the Airport to connect the affected villages for the convenience of the local residents.