SHILLONG: In a major blow to the ongoing expansion work of the Umroi airport, the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the order passed by the Meghalaya High Court in relation to acquisition of land for the purpose.
The apex court issued the stay order while responding to a petition filed by the land owners of Nongsder.
Informing this here, the lawyer for the petitioner Erwin K Sutnga said that the entire procedure of land acquisition and compensation has come under the scanner of the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court while issuing notices to the State Chief Secretary and Ri Bhoi Deputy Commissioner has set July 4 as the next date of hearing.
It may be mentioned that the High Court of Meghalaya while taking exception to the undue delay over the completion of expansion work of the Shillong Airport at Umroi had passed an order in December last year in which it had set four months to complete the project.
The AAI has taken possession of Defence land measuring 31.825 acres for the expansion of Umroi Airport according to the affidavit filed by Sanjay Tyagi, Airport Director, Shillong, as per the last order of the High Court on November 24.
