SHILLONG: The High Court of Meghalaya has granted 10-day time to file the latest calibration report and flight procedure design report for making the Shillong Airport functional.
The division bench comprising Chief Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir and Justice SR Sen heard the case on Tuesday. The commissioner of Transport, in his affidavit, said work allotted to contractors in clusters II and III has started.
In the Assembly on Tuesday, Speaker Donkupar Roy disallowed a cut motion on the upgradation of Umroi airport by saying the matter was sub-judice.
“The matter is being examined by the High Court and the Assembly rules do not permit to hold discussion regarding the matter,” he said.
During the hearing, the chief engineer of PWD (Roads) said over 15 per cent of the excavation work was done in Cluster II (Part I). The work at dumping site has progressed by around 9 per cent.
Regarding the second part of Cluster-II, contractor Banalari Khongwar has excavated over 16 per cent and dumping is shown as around 11 per cent.
The contractor of Cluster-III has completed around 17 per cent each of excavation and dumping between September 12 and September 23.
“The performance of the contractor of Cluster-III appears to be better as compared to the contractors of cluster-II part-I and part-II,” the court observed.
The advocate general submitted that the chief engineer had assured him that work has started and there are certain hindrances like electricity wires, which have been removed. “In the next 10 days, progress will be much more,” the court was told.
“The report is taken on record. The chief engineer will file the latest status as shall be prepared on daily basis,” the order added.
The affidavit filed by the executive director (flight inspection unit), Airports Authority of India, Corporate Head Quarters, New Delhi revealed that after the flight procedure design is approved by the DGCA, further action like flight trial of the procedure will be conducted by a test pilot approved by the same authority. Based on the assessment report of the test pilot, flight procedure will be approved by DGCA and published for civil use.
The additional solicitor general submitted that copies of the calibration report dated September 12 and flight procedure design report to the affidavit have already been submitted and sought 10 days’ time to file the latest report.
The court said AAI was committed to do whatever required by or before September 30.
The matter has been posted for hearing on October 8.