Measuring Malda airport begins

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 6. — The Malda land acquisition department has started measurement of airport land in order to find out the areas grabbed and encroached by the others, including the railway department, an official said today. The airport authorities had alleged that many lands of the Malda airstrip, especially on the eastern side, have been encroached, leaving a question mark to the materialisation of the project. It may be noted that an expert team, after visiting the project site twice, had pointed out many problems regarding the implementation of the project and told the district authorities that they needed more lands for the purpose. It was, in fact, revealed that the fate of the project was uncertain. Finally, in order to rerun the proposed project, the Malda district magistrate had tried desperately to convince the authorities that the present position of the Malda airstrip was in good condition for landing of air taxis there. “With a minimum cost, the present set can be updated for landing of aircrafts”, the DM had told the airport authorities. The airport authorities told the district authorities that they were planning to revive the project and that at least ATR 42 aircraft can easily land here. Since the last three days, the surveyors of the district land acquisition department and the airport authorities have been measuring the areas and they would also measure the railway part based on the allegation lodged by the airport authorities. After completion of the survey, the district administration would prepare a blueprint for another report for the consideration of the government to expedite the proposed project plan. The district administration has already proposed the authorities to invite the private organisation for landing air taxis in Malda airstrip. The district authorities have also decided to develop it related infrastructure like connecting road and others facilities. #

Allegations stall airport land survey
Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 20. — A joint survey for measuring the lands under the Malda airports authority has been stalled owing to an allegation of encroachment on the airport lands by the Indian railways, officials said today. Authorities said that few days ago, the survey started and the measurement on the three sides of the airport area was already completed. But, during the survey, it was discovered that the railway line passed through the eastern part of the airport. Allegedly, the Malda railway authorities were unaware about any legal papers of the encroached land and the survey work was, hence, suspended temporarily. On the issue of the revival of the survey on the airport land, the Malda administration was unhappy with the local in-charge of the Malda airport seeking papers of land records from the railway side. “Mr SK Chanda does not have any records of land of the existing lands and is very reluctant to collect it from his departmental head quarters”, said an officials. On the other hand, the Malda railway officials have collected the papers of the disputed lands and also its past records from the headquarters. Land acquisition officials said that the land was acquired for Malda airport five decades ago and a part of the land was transferred to the railway department. They further added that they have submitted all documents and papers to the local airport authorities, but, they are not satisfied with it as they have no records from their end. The district officials however admitted that a small part of the land has been encroached and it would effect the aircraft landing at the present ground.