By Our Reporter
SHILLONG, April 22: The High Court of Meghalaya was on Wednesday told that the proposed expansion of the Shillong Airport has received environment clearance from the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change.
In a fresh status report submitted on behalf of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the court was also informed that the expansion work has been awarded to KCC Buildcon Pvt. Ltd. Deputy Solicitor General of India Nitesh Mozika tendered the status report, which was taken on record.
The court observed from the report that the green nod was received from the Ministry on March 28 for the expansion of the Shillong Airport runway, the terminal building, apron, and other allied works. The work order was awarded to the firm on April 1.
According to Clause 6 of the work order, the firm has been allowed 18 months, including three months considered for rain, from the 10th day after issuance of the said letter to complete the project. The court was told that safety documents were prepared at the stakeholders’ meeting (for safety assessment during the execution stage) on April 8 and sent to the AAI headquarters for vetting before the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.
Advocate General Amit Kumar stated that the Meghalaya government will hand over the land to the Defence authorities at the earliest, in place of the land handed over by the Defence authorities to the state, for the expansion of the runway, if not already done. The statement was accepted.
The court, comprising Chief Justice Revati Mohite Dere and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh, sought a fresh status report to be submitted on the next date.
