SHILLONG: Although the State Government had handed over 224 acres of land for the expansion of the runway from the present 6000 feet to 7500 feet, the expansion plan is yet to see its execution: thanks to perennial problem of land acquisition.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has made it clear that it cannot take up any developmental activities pertaining to Umroi Airport unless various issues connected with acquisition of land are sorted out.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, the General Manager (Engineering), AAI Regional office, Sreekumar said that possession of land and erection of boundary wall are some of the pre-requisites for development of any airport and the AAI has no role in matters pertaining to land acquisition
It may be mentioned that the land owners have refused to part with their land for the project owing to the delay in releasing the compensation amount.
Earlier, the State government had said Rs.44,89,00,000 has been disbursed among the landowners.
The Government also clarified that a Supplementary proposal for Land Acquisition around Umroi airport amounting to Rs.11,44,03,177 was submitted by the Deputy Commissioner Ri Bhoi which after examination was referred back by the Government to the district administration to submit the Land Acquisition proposal according to the provision of Land Acquisition Act, 1894 and to re-submit fresh Supplementary Award for inclusion of the amount payable on account of re-classification of land.
The NEC has already sanctioned construction of the perimeter fencing wall for Umroi Airport and has plans to sanction funds for construction of hangars and extension of the airstrip by an additional 1500 feet and these works along with installation of Instrument Landing System (ILS) at Umroi can be started once the land acquisition process is completed and the land is handed over to the Airports Authority of India by the Meghalaya Government.
According to Sreekumar, if there was a retaining wall in the airport, atleast Advanced Landing System could have been installed .
However, he said that surveys were conducted recently for development of the airport and he is hopeful that the land issue would be resolved at the earliest for the expansion of the airport.