The Meghalaya High Court has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on a land owner for failing to file her affidavit regarding the land that the State government had acquired in the past for expansion of Umroi airport.
Patricia Nongsiej of Mawtnum village near Nongpoh had been given time by the court since July 19 to file her affidavit on the matter.
However, when the division bench of the High Court took up the matter today, it was found that Nongsiej failed to file her affidavit.
The court therefore imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on the lady and directed that the money be deposited with the Meghalaya State Legal Services Authority.
The High Court also directed her to file the affidavit within ten days from today and to attach a receipt that the fine has been paid.
“It is made clear that the deposit of the costs will be a condition precedent and the receipt evidencing such deposit must accompany the affidavit or else it will not be accepted,” the court said.
During the hearing held on June 7, the Amicus Curiae, P Yobin had informed the High Court that the 32 acre of land for the expansion of the airport at Umroi had been acquired from Stied Dkhar, but there were two other persons Patricia Nongsiej and Mac Lyngdoh Shira who should be given notices so that the matter could be dealt with appropriately.
Stied Dkhar and Mac Lyngdoh Shira have filed their affidavits before the court.
It may be mentioned that the State government has identified some sites for setting up a new airport in the State, as the existing airport at Umroi may not be expanded.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI) had also stated that the runway at the existing airport may not be possible to expand to accommodate large aircraft. The State government also said that the cost involved in “felling the nearby mountains may not yield commensurate benefit”.
