Doloo Greenfield Airport: Before sending a formal proposal, requisite land should be in our hand: CM

July 26: The proposed construction of Greenfield Airport at Dolu has invited several criticisms from the opposition and certain organisations. On the basis of a RTI response from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and also on the basis of a reply given to MP Sushmita Dev by Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, it was alleged that the BJP government has uprooted lakhs of tea plants at Doloo, whereas till now no formal proposal was submitted by the government to the concerned ministry for construction of a Greenfield Airport there.

A similar question was raised before Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma during a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday. Responding to the query, CM Sarma said, “Before sending a formal proposal, requisite land should be in our hand. We do not have the requisite land with us. Until and unless we give the people of Doloo the assured compensation and develop a heart to heart relationship with the people of Doloo Tea Estate, till then I will not send the proposal for the construction of Greenfield Airport to the concerned ministry.”

“There are two issues associated with this matter of Greenfield Airport at Doloo Tea Estate. When we sent the proposal of a few sites, the concerned department has approved the site at Doloo. But I can send the final proposal only then, when we will become the owners of the land. As for instance, how can I send a proposal in a place which is your house? Civil Aviation Ministry has selected Doloo as appropriate spot for construction of the said Airport. They have said that if the Greenfield Airport needs to be constructed at Doloo then that land should be handed over to them. I have told them that we will hand over that land to them. Till this point, we have had discussion with the ministry. But for providing them the said land, we need to own it first,” added the Chief Minister.

Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma further stated, “These are the steps required for a proposal to get converted into reality. So some people without understanding the intricacies of the issue asks that whether I have taken the 100th step! But the fact of the matter is that we shall have to proceed in this matter step by step and only then we can reach the 100th step. Now, we are in 99th step. Everything has been done.”

“My visit to Doloo Tea Estate is now pending. I was unable to go there due to flood. I have already got the land from the owners. But the workers of Doloo also should be taken into full confidence. They too should come up with an open mind. We are ready with the assured amount of Rs.1 lakh compensation to each of them. I will very soon visit Doloo, give them the assured amount and have an open dialogue with the tea workers. I will explain to them as to how the economy of the place will get a boost once the Greenfield Airport is constructed there. It is only then that we will submit the proposal to the Civil Aviation Ministry.”