Gaggal residents, who gave land for airport project, get relief

The Himachal Government has started disbursing compensation to landowners, who have willingly given their land for the expansion of the Gaggal airport in Kangra district. Sources said that as many people of the Gaggal region had challenged the decision of the state government to acquire their land for the airport expansion project in the High Court of Himachal Pradesh, compensation would be disbursed only to those who had willingly given their land.

The sources said that till date, Rs 24 crore had been disbursed to the landowners of seven revenue mohals, namely Jugehar, Rachhuyalu, Bhadot, Dhugiari, Bheri, Koiri and Sanoura, who had willingly given their land for the project.

The government had recently released Rs 34 crore for disbursement as compensation to the landowners. The sources said that, as per the estimates of the Revenue Department, the government would have to provide Rs 2,500 crore as compensation to private landowners for acquiring 120 hectares for the expansion of the airport.

Kangra District Tourism Officer Vinay Dhiman, who is the nodal officer for the airport project, said that compensation was initially disbursed to the landowners, who had willingly handed over their land to the government. Since many landowners had moved the Himachal High Court, the compensation would be disbursed to them after the court judgment, he added.

The sources said that about 2,500 families in Gaggal would be displaced due to the airport project. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu had termed the expansion of the Gaggal airport as important for tourism development in Kangra and other regions of the state. He had kept Rs 2,000 crore in the 2023-24 Budget for the expansion of the Gaggal airport.

Sukhu had assured people, who were being displaced due to the airport project, that they would be given adequate compensation and a satellite township would also be developed for them. Locals, whose land is to be acquired, have been opposing the project. However, an expert committee formed by the state government for assessing the social impact of the project, in its report has stated that its benefits would outweigh its affects on people, who would be uprooted.

The committee has urged the government to consider the suggestions of people, who would be uprooted, regarding the construction of a satellite township for them within 5 km of the Gaggal airport.

The Central Finance Commission had sanctioned Rs 400 crore for the airport expansion, which was a major demand of the tourism industry.

Rs 2,500 crore required to acquire 120 hectares

• The government has disbursed Rs 24 crore  among people who have willingly given their land for the airport expansion project
• Rs 2,500 crore required for acquiring 120 hectares of private individuals
• Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has assured people, who are being displaced due to the airport project, that they will be given adequate compensation and a satellite township will also be developed for them
• The Central Finance Commission had sanctioned Rs 400 crore for the airport expansion, which was a major demand of the tourism industry