Akshay Azad
JAMMU, Aug 23: Fresh objections raised by Army authorities with Jammu and Kashmir Government have seemingly stopped the expansion of Jammu Airport, for which an amount of Rs. 70 Crores was approved by Union Government in beginning of year 2011. Source informed Early Times that Army authorities have raised some new objections and have refused to handover defence land at Satwari, acquired by state for the expansion of project.
"Some days back another letter was forwarded by Army authorities to Jammu and Kashmir Government, asking latter for creation of various type of infrastructure at alternate land at Sunjwan first. Army has made it clear that they would only handover defence land at Satwari in a phased manner when Fencing, Leveling of land at Sunjwan, will be done by State Government", sources said, adding that the Army has also asked State Government that their structures at Satwari would only be dismantled when structures at Sunjwan would be constructed.
They further said that the demand of ownership right over Sunjwan land was also a major bottleneck but the new objections have also increased the woes of State Government to expand the Jammu Airport. "The Divisional Commissioner office have forwarded the letter of Army, to Deputy Commissioner Jammu and are awaiting for latter's reply", sources said, adding that the reply would be forwarded to Commissioner Secretary to Civil Aviation and finally the matter would be taken by State Government with Defence Ministry, so that expansion work would be taken at war footing basis.
The State Government has already provided 138 Kanals of Forest Land to Army at Sunjwan, but State Government has refused to give ownership right to a non state subject entity (Army). Sources said that army authorities had initially agreed to accept the land at Sunjwan but latter had stake claim for ownership right at Forest Land Sunjwan.
The project aims at expanding the Jammu airport, especially its runway, which was presently too short for airbus and international flights. Presently the runway of the airdrome is 6,700 feet in length and the authorities want to expand it to 8000 feet as a major portion of the airport is being used by the Indian Air Force. Supreme Court's Central Empowered Committee (CEC) had cleared the change of land use of seven hectares land - the portion of Bahu Fort Games Reserve, in October, 2011, to provide the same to Army in lieu of its base adjoining to Jammu Airport at Satwari. The project includes expansion of landing surface, setting up of hangers, modernization and expansion of the airport building and its premises. |
