Balh Airport Socio-Economic study suggests alternative site : Balh Kissan Sangarsh Samiti
Balh Bacho Kisan Sangarsh Samiti (BBKSS) said today that SR Asia conducted Socio-Economic impact assessment survey of proposed Balh International airport. The survey suggested to shift the proposed airport to an alternative site so as to save the high fertile land of Balh valley. In a press conference addressed at Mandi today by convener of the BBKSS Mr Joginder Walia said that Jai Ram Thakur Government was repeatedly request by the farmers to change proposed alternative site as they were not ready to handover their fertile agriculture land for the project keeping the the economic importance and fallout of displacement from their arable land. Mr Walia said that Airport Authority of India also observed in a letter issued to the state government that DPR of Mandi airport was submitted incomplete and directed the state to complete the same before 31st March this year.
He said that SEIAS was conducted and in the survey it was suggested that the government should change the proposed site to other places. The survey stated that the Balh Airport would displace farmers who are earning Rupees three to four lakh income from the fertile lands per annum. Mr Walia stated that earlier BBKSS was also stating the same thing while demanding to change the proposed site to a lesser fertile land at Jahu which would save the high fertile agriculture land of Balh valley which can produce three crops in one year. Mr Walia claimed that SR Asia survey now revealed that no other place in the state is so fertile as it is in the Balh valley moreover it is not fit for construction of Airport keeping Socio-Economic Impact of the proposed project . The SEIAS Survey endorsed their demand. BBKSS said that new study also agreed on many points of their view as it had made clear that hundred percent farmer would be displaced or affected by the Airport more over farmers were not happy with the offered circle rates promised to them by the last government.
Mr Walia said that the farmers have demanded compensation of their land keeping the productivity of land beside they are also expecting similar fertile land in replacement of their land along with compensation for their livelihood which is expected to be affected. Mr Walia told media person that they are urging state government for the past one year to reconsider the proposal and shift it to an alternative place. He pointed out if government would still go with the proposal , it will be another table top airport which would pose natural disaster and increase the flood incidents in the flood prone area of Balh. He added that if table top Airport would be construct in the valley it would cause havoc of soil erosion and increase large numbers of flood incidents in the future.
Mr Walia also drew the attention of Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu government to implement the SEIAS report and change the proposed site from Balh to Jahu. Mr Walia also said that recently notices were served by district administration Kangra to people living in the 15 km radius area of Gaggal Airport to not build high rise buildings in wake of purposed plan of construction of International Airport at Dharmshala. District Administration and AAI have increased the tension of people as people of Dharmshala living near the airport up to 15 km surrounding have to obtained permission from AAI and Town and Country Planning would not pass their house plan without having consent from AAI. Mr Walia added that if an international airport would comes up at Balh people of Sundernagar and Mandi town would have to face similar embargo in construction activity both as places fall in 15 km radius from the Balh and it would serve no economic interests for local people if they cannot build high rise hotel and development projects.
Balh airport was a dream project of the former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur Government however farmer alleged that previous government tried to divide them by stating that 60 percent of the farmer are ready to receive compensation on the basis of circle rate which now is exposed by the SEIAS stating that shows 100 percent farmers have not agreed on the compensation rate of circle value. Currently Himachal Pradesh has three airport however keeping hard terrain and hill topography no airport is suitable for landing and take off for big aircraft. Since 2012 no flight has operated at Shimla airport which was resumed recently before the assembly election. Aircraft can not carry same payload during take off from Shimla airport due to table top airport and smaller size of airstrip.
