The Airport Authority of India (AAI) will conduct a pre-feasibility study of the land at Diengpasoh on October 27-28 to find out if the site is feasible for setting up of a greenfield airport.
The AAI informed this before the division bench of Meghalaya High Court.
The AAI also pointed out that some initial payment has to be made by the State government for the pre-feasibility study.
The State government informed the High Court that an amount of Rs 23.60 lakh has already been paid to AAI and other initial expenses for the pre-feasibility study will be taken care of by the government without any impediment.
Meanwhile, the High Court has directed the State government to make every endeavour to ensure that there is no encroachment in and around the area.
“For such purpose, again as directed earlier, aerial or drone photographs should immediately be commissioned so that false claims that are likely to come up may be dealt with appropriately,” the High Court said while fixing the matter for hearing on November 11.
It may be noted that the State government has identified a plot of land measuring around 2000 acres at Diengpasoh, off the Guwahati-Jowai highway which the government said was suitable for setting up of a greenfield airport.
The proposed greenfield airport would replace the existing Umroi airport. The new airport would facilitate landing of big aircraft unlike Umroi airport where only small aircraft can land.
Since the State government has identified the land at Diengpasoh for the proposed greenfield airport project, the High Court in its order passed on September 14 has asked the State government to provide ancillary facilities like the approach road to the airport, the provision for a possible hotel, police station, barracks for the security personnel guarding the airport and other necessities that accompany a modern airport.
The High Court has also asked the State government to guard against speculative transaction of land in the nearby areas.
“Immediately after news of the State’s offer to the AAI is published, there will be a beeline to acquire land in or around the area and even attempt to set up huts and shanties in the hope of obtaining undue compensation or of setting up business once the airport project gets underway,” the court said at the September 14 hearing.
It also asked the State government to take every measure possible, in consultation with the Khasi Hills Autonomous District Council, to guard against the speculation in land in and around the area which has been identified and also against setting up of any hut or shanty or any other form of encroachment so that the airport project is not impeded or the expenses not needlessly increased.
