Airstrip-survey for more land

MALDA, July 17: Malda's land acquisition department has started surveying the acquisition of additional five acres of land, on the west of the existing air strip, in English Bazaar town.Earlier, the department sent a survey report to the transport department, proposing 50 acres to be acquired on the west of the present air strip. Urged by the airport authorities, recently, the additional chief secretary has asked the Malda administration to prepare a proposal for the acquisition. According to the district officials, the state government was keen on knowing about the land features, to be acquired, in a bid to estimate its cost. The additional land acquisition aims to extend run-ways on the west to evade the east's obstruction by high rise buildings and mobile towers. Conducting a survey, two days ago, the district land acquisition department has planned to send the final report of additional five acre land to the transport department, this week. A political initiative was taken to restore the Malda airport with the revival project of Cooch Behar. n SNS