Dimapur, March 1 (EMN): The Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has issued a statement in response to a notification issued by the government of Nagaland for acquisition of land to set up an airport.
The group issued a press release on Sunday advising the government to ‘go by the rule.’ It stated that the Planning Commission had turned down the proposal during 2007-2012 on the ground that the site was technically and financially not feasible and 'worthy' for an airport. The government then proposed a site in Ruzaphema village site as an alternative.
The statement referenced Kohima Deputy Commissioner Gregory Thejawelie’s notification that additional land measuring 368,5201 acres at Ciethu Chiechama in Kohima district is required for ‘acquisition’ or ‘outright purchase’ for the Ciethu-Chiechama Airport.
In this connection, the deputy commissioner had, in exercise of powers conferred by section 9 (2) of Nagaland Land Requisition Act of 1965, under the authorisation of the state government as competent authority had notified claims and objections over the area. It was to be submitted to the administration, the organisation stated.
The NPRAAF asked the state government “whether feasibility report was issued by Airport Authority of India (AAI) for the said area of land before proposed outright purchase/acquisition for airport.”
‘The NPRAAF would like to remind the state government and make people of Nagaland aware that, in 2006 a land measuring 600 Acres of land was acquired for setting up of airport. The acquired land was sufficient enough to set up an airport,’ the press release stated.
‘However, it is unfortunate that, the area acquired by the state government for the airport has two hillocks in it, which required to be knocked down and levelled and huge retaining wall must be raised on both sides, incurring heavy expenditure for an airport of a small aircraft.’
The organisation stated that the Planning Commission had “turn down” the proposal during 2007-2012 on the ground that the site was technically and financially not feasible and worthy for airport.
The press release read: ‘Therefore, in 2015 the government of Nagaland again proposed Ruzaphema village site for alternative airport to Dimapur. Subsequently, a technical team from the Airport Authority of India came and made aerial and ground survey to the proposed land for airport and was fully satisfied. Thereafter, the Airport Authority of India issued feasibility report with a remark that the proposed airport has the potential to be one of the best airports in the country. Surprisingly the same site to set up an airport has not been expedited for larger interest of the state and nation at large.’
“NPRAAF would like to know from the state govt why technically unworthy site was prioritised over technically feasible site for airport and under what scheme and account of the government the land compensation would be paid off to the land owner(s).”
The organisation declared that it would be in the “fittest of things for a responsible government to go by the rule.” The NPRAAF has requested the state government not to set up an airport in a location which was observed to be ‘technically unworthy site by none other than the Airport Authority of India as it will have future consequences.’
The group stated that the government is expected to work for ‘larger interest and not for vested interest.’
“NPRAAF appeals to the state government to ponder over the matter and take wise decision to avoid setting bad precedence and dragging the issue further,’ the press release stated.