The construction cost of Balh airport has gone up to Rs 8034 Cr

Himachal Pradesh Government stated in the Himachal Pradesh Assembly on Tuesday that Rs 1000 Crore announced to be provided by the 15th Finance Commission did not release the fund so far. He said that the Congress government is active on the issue as the government is working to release the  sanctioned amount from the Government of India. He said that cost of Green Field airport at Mandi have gone up to Rs 8034 Crore and if it would get more delayed the cost of the project would increase up to Rs 9000 Crore. Replying to a query raised by Inder Gandhi of BJP, Vinod Kumar and Sudhir Sharma of Congress in the question hours. Mr Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu said that the Government is trying to release the money from the center and the opposition also help the government to release the same soon. Outside the assembly a delegation of farmers of Balh, Mandi met the Chief Minister Mr. Sukhwinder Singh on Monday in the assembly premises urging the approval of the Social Impact Report. Delegation said that land of Balh is very fertile, so the proposed airport should be made at an alternative site. The delegation said that five years ago, Jairam government was adamant on building its dream airport on fertile land, while now according to the report, alternate land between Mandi or Hamirpur of Himachal Pradesh, Jahu has been considered suitable for the air project, which is in three districts Mandi,  Connects Bilaspur and Hamirpur and most of the land there is barren and less fertile. Delegation maintained that that 80 percent  land is government and 20 percent land is private and there would be very less displacement of people due to land acquisition as compared to Balh, therefore SR Asia team has suggested that based on the technical survey in Jahu, the proposed airport should be shifted to Jahu.  The committee requests it to be build on non fertile land.