MALKANGIRI: Construction of the much-awaited airstrip at Batapalli, 2 km from the district headquarters town, will start soon as the land acquisition for the Rs 15-crore project has been completed.
Of the 90.22 hectares (ha) of land identified for the proposed airstrip spread over four villages - Gureiguda, Gailapari, Batpalli and Nilimari - 43.27 ha is Government land and rest 46.95 ha private land. Similarly, of the 43.27 ha Government land, 13.35 ha is forest land which will be acquired soon, sources said.
Executive Engineer of Roads and Buildings (R&B), Malkangiri, Arun Kumar Sahu said 43.27 ha of Government land and 46.95 ha of private land has already been acquired and handed over to the R&B for construction of the airstrip. The length of the runway will be 1,500 metres.
Construction of the airstrip will start after 13.35 ha of forest land is handed over to the R&B. Similarly, the revenue and R&B officials are searching for alternative land in the district for compensatory afforestation programme before acquiring the 13.35 ha of forest land, he added.
When contacted, Collector Manish Agarwal said the revenue officials have been asked to find out alternative land for planting of trees under compensatory afforestation programme to divert the original forest land of 13.35 ha. Then, the acquired forest land will be handed over to R&B department, the implementing agency, for construction of the airstrip, he added.
Kalimela tehsildar has been asked to identify the land for compensatory afforestation programme. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) survey is being conducted for the purpose, R&B sources said. Once constructed, the airstrip will provide better connectivity to the district and will be used by the security forces for combating Maoist activities.
Project Plan
Rs 15 cr project cost
90.22 ha land identified
43.27 ha Government land
46.95 ha private land 13.35 ha
forest land
