The Central
Government is going to start ArunachalÂs first Greenfield airport project by
November 2022. The Modi Government has started the project ÂAviation ReformÂ
under which 5 new airports will be built along with 6 heliports and 50 new air
routes. Sindhudurg and Gondhia districts of Maharashtra are the two districts
that are included in this project. PM Modi stated that he will make the
north-eastern states the wheel of the development of the country.
The biggest
issue that the government is facing while building this airport is land
acquisition. Many development projects like these in India have come to a halt for
the same reason. But nothing is impossible if the administration wants it, one
of the most prominent examples is the Hollongi Greenfield Airport that is being
built in Arunachal Pradesh. The Airport Authority of India has set a target to
complete this airport by November 2022.
It is going
to be the first Greenfield airport in Arunachal Pradesh and also the largest in
the state of the northeast. The airport is tentatively going to be operational
from November next year. SK Jain, Secretary of the Department of Land
Management (SK JAIN IAS) has a major role in the development of this airport.
About 10
years ago, the planning of the Hollongi Greenfield airport began but due to
land acquisition issues, the project came to a halt. Also with the hollow
information regarding the compensation to be given to be affected people by the
project, rehabilitation plans the project couldnÂt proceed further. For all
these issues many committees were formed but no proper solution was ever found.
Most of the land for this project has been acquired by the Chakma people of the
tribal community. Finally, after a lot of trouble, the Arunachal State
Government formed a committee of 7 people on 7th August 2017. One of
the members was Land Management Secretary SK Jain (SK Jain IAS).
Land Management Minister Nabam Rebia, Agriculture Minister Wangki Lowang, Revenue Minister Ali Alo Lebang, Energy Minister Tamyo Taga were also included in this committee. This committee first analysed the people who were disrupted by the project and came up with the idea of providing them with a good compensation and good facilities. After discussing this proposal with the local people, the state government bought a total of 945 acres of land at the rate of Rs 500 per square meter for the Greenfield airport. The most important role in the preparation of this report was played by SK Jain, the then Secretary of the Department of Land Management. Therefore, if the administrative officer wants to make a change, then any challenging situation can be resolved.
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