HC wrath against delay in Umroi airport expansion

SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has taken exception to the delay on the part of the state government to make the Umroi airport operational with adequate facilities.
During the hearing of the matter on Thursday, the Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Judge S.R Sen said the court will not be inclined to allow prolonging the matter beyond proportion.
“Any authority, at whatever level, shall bear in mind that the court proceedings/directions by no stretch of imagination can be permitted to be taken for granted. Any attempts made will be at the peril of concerned authorities”, the court, said, adding that playing with the orders of the court is like playing with fire.
“Any person at whatever level, if affords to do so, he shall know that he may not be given the chance to explain against his burnt fingers”, the court added.
The court fixed the matter for hearing again on July 4.
According to the court, the stand taken in the affidavits as filed by the state and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) violates the directions issued from time to time by the court and also in contrast to the earlier stand of the respondents.
The court said that the Executive Director, planning department will nominate two experts to remain present in the court on the next date to explain as to whether there is scope for reducing the extent of chopping of hills, keep in view the position as was taken care of vis-à-vis airports at Mizoram,Sikkim, Mumbai and other comparable airports.
The court wanted the chief secretary along with the chief engineer, PWD and the commissioner of transport (nodal officer) to remain present on the next date to explain as to whether there is scope for reducing the cost component as has been worked out.
“We make it clear that there is no scope for accepting any suggestion to have any other place for the airport. The Airports Authority of India should depute a responsible officer who will remain present in the court on the next date to suggest as to what is the scope for operating ATR service from different destinations from and to Umroi airport on regular basis till the airport is made fully functional in accordance with the project being executed, and for that what will be the requirement and cost of removing the obstacles if any.
The court made it clear that there is no scope for stretching the matter any further and after years of monitoring the matter by the court, the passive approach on the part of the authorities is not acceptable.
“We hope that the respondent authorities will understand the sensitivity of the matter and pain of the public who had been waiting for the operationalisation of the airport for airbus/aircraft right from the year 1960”, the court added.