Shillong, Dec 8: The Meghalaya High Court has directed the State government to stop calling for tenders for expansion of the Umroi airport until all formalities related to land swap and removal of obstacles are completed.
Noting that while several steps have been taken by the State government for acquisition of the required land for expansion of the Shillong Airport, Umroi, the court sought clarity on the handing over of 11.75 acres of land.
A division bench of Chief Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Wanlura Diengdoh today said the government claimed to have already acquired the land but it appears that the Ministry of Defence has granted Advance Working Permission to the State government for use of Defence land, subject to provision of Equal Value Land (EVL).
The court noted the approval of the Cabinet on November 26 to purchase land from local communities at Umroi Madan, which will be swapped with the Defence estate required for expansion of the airport.
“Physical joint demarcation of 10.30 acres has been completed in the presence of the competent authorities. However, the matter relating to Equal Value Land for the purpose of handing/taking over 10.30 acres of land has not been formally concluded,” the court said.
The court also said that the target dates for removal of the obstacles by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Transport Department are yet to be finalised.
“Unless the aforesaid formalities are completed, tender cannot be floated for the aforesaid work,” the court directed.
The government and the AAI have been directed to file a status report on December 11 and that the required formalities for the purpose of handing over possession of the required land with all clearances are completed.
The Defence Estate Officer/local military authority, Umroi has been directed to complete the process of transfer of the 10.30 acres land on which demarcation has already been completed.
The court has urged the Deputy Solicitor General of India to look into the matter and expedite the process with the Defence Estate Officer/local military authority for the purpose of formally concluding the handing over of the defence land.
