Land hurdle for Malda airstrip

Statesman News Service

MALDA, Jan. 11: The proposed land acquisition for reopening of the Malda airstrip is being delayed owing to some conditions imposed by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), officials said here today. While the Malda district administration officials said there was no written proposal for land acquisition for the Malda airstrip, Mr SK Chanda, in-charge of the Malda airport, said the state chief secretary had been informed about the land acquisition proposal many days back. “Mr AK Mishra, an AAI official, had stressed upon the need for land acquisition for the revival of the Malda airstrip. He had also urged the state government to bear 50 per cent cost of the land and free supply of electricity and water. Perhaps, this condition is delaying the land acquisition,” Mr Chanda, said. It may be recalled that after conducting a survey recently, the AAI officials had pointed out that high-rise buildings and mobile towers on the eastern side of the existing airstrip would obstruct the landing of aircrafts. They felt that at least 45 acres of land would be required for the expansion of the runway. Official sources said land surveyors would be visiting the airstrip in the last week of January to settle the land dispute. The AAI officials have identified more than 10 buildings on the eastern side of the airstrip’s land and urged the district administration to take action against the owners of these buildings.