AJIT KUMAR MOHANTY, OP
Puri: The proposed Shree Jagannath Greenfield International Airport at Sipsa rubali mouza along the Pu ri-Brahmagiri road has moved a step closer to becoming a reality, with forest-related is sues resolved and Coastal Reg ulation Zone (CRZ) clearance received, offi cials said.
This development is expected to expedite the construction process.
The airport had earlier received Stage-I approval, following which various conditions stipulated under the approval were complied with, and the required reports were submitted.
A total of 1,164.754 acres has been acquired for the proposed airport.
Of this, 221.891 acres are private land and 942.863 acres are government land.
A total of 129 families from Sipsarubali and Sandhapur mouzas will be displaced by the project.
The displaced families will be provided compensation and rehabilitation assistance under the land acquisition and rehabilitation law.
As per the rehabilitation package, each displaced family will receive Rs 5 lakh as housing assistance, more than Rs 3.39 lakh for construction of a new house, Rs 1.13 lakh as shifting assistance, Rs 54,300 towards livelihood support for one year and Rs 25,000 as business assistance for setting up a shop.
With the land acquisition and rehabilitation process progressing and the necessary clearances for construction being secured, hopes have risen that the long-awaited airport project will finally take shape.
Puri Collector Dibyajyoti Parida said, “We are awaiting the final clearance.
The CRZ clearance has also been received.
The construction work will be started at the earliest with the cooperation of the AAI and the C&T department, while ensuring that all procedures are properly followed.”
