Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 08:
Tulihal airport of Imphal will be upgraded to be at par with international standard airports with the addition/provision of night landing facilities, Chief minister O Ibobi Singh said in a response to a query from MPP's RK Anand in the Assembly today.
This modernization benefit is one of the packages announced by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh during his visit in December last year after endorsing a memorandum to him by the state Government to this effect.
A team of Airport Authorities of India (AAI) had recently conducted spot verification of the airport for taking up the proposed upgradation task, the Chief Minister said while adding that ministry of civil aviation had intimated for acquiring 400 to 500 acres of land from the state government.
Considering the thick population on the airport's northern side the government is mulling over the possibility of acquiring agricultural land on the southern side, the chief minister said.
Responding to a call attention motion raised by the Naoriya Pakhanglakpa MLA, O Ibobi informed that as per information of the AAI team to him the airport after its upgradation should have enough space to park eight to ten aircrafts simultaneously.
Observing that the present terminal of Tulihal airport cannot accommodate passengers when it is converted to an international standard airport, the chief minister said another terminal would be constructed on its western end which is currently occupied by the Maratha Light Infantry.
Appropriate compensations would be given by the state Government to the affected landowners in accordance with the present market value, the chief minister said.
On installation of devices for supporting night landing facility, he mentioned that two such devices were previously installed at Nongmaiching hills in Imphal east but they were damaged by anti social elements.
The devices would again be put up at the same spot after deploying one company of dedicated security personnel there, he said.
Taking into account the people's concern over the proposed acquisition of land by the state for developmental purposes, Ibobi said expressed is no alternative other than acquire requisite land for expansion and modern look of the airport.
Besides this, the govt is looking for 200 acres of land for expansion of Manipur University, which has now become a central varsity and another 300 acres for setting up the proposed Manipur Institute of Technology.
While moving his motion RK Anand said a panicky situation is gripping the people living in the affinity of the airport as they are apprehensive of their respective dwelling lands being acquired for the proposed airport up gradation.
This has become a serious concern for them.
The MPP legislature demanded to know on what basis the land would be acquired and what rehabilitation package could the Government provide in the event of their plots being acquired.