SC lifts stay,22 acres to be acquired for airport runway

The proposal for the additional runway was put forth jointly by the Defence Ministry and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in March 2004. Following clearance from authorities,the District Collector had initiated proceedings to acquire land for the same. The private landowner,whose land was to be acquired for the project,had unsuccessfully moved the district and the high courts against the acquisition.

The landowner later approached the apex court,but it too turned down the plea,following which a special leave petition was moved. The Supreme Court had ordered a status quo on this petition on November 11,2008,which has now been lifted.

“The acquisition process,which was initiated in 2004,had landed in trouble. But now,with the land acquisition being cleared,the development work can soon be initiated,” the collector said.

“Since the proposal came from the Air Force,the details of the project are only with them,” said airport director Captain Deepak Shastri.