The Himachal Pradesh government has begun the process of acquiring land for the expansion of Kangra Airport at Gaggal, but the necessary approval for transferring forest land from the Government of India remains pending.
The development came to light during a hearing of a petition in Himachal Pradesh High Court on Monday (November 25) filed by the Gaggal Airport Expansion Affected Social Welfare Committee. The petition challenges the land acquisition process, alleging that the state government has not adhered to all required procedures or obtained the necessary clearances.
Where is the delay?
In an affidavit, the Special Secretary of the Tourism and Civil Aviation Department informed the court that the land acquisition process is currently underway, with some awards already issued by the Land Acquisition Officer.
However, the approval for transferring forest land from the Indian government has not been obtained yet. Justice Sandeep Sharma, hearing the case, remarked that the airport expansion proposal is still under review by the Project Screening Committee.
Furthermore, the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR), a key document for obtaining environmental clearances, has not been finalised. Without the TEFR, the Indian government cannot grant the necessary forest clearance.
“The Court also finds that the proposal for the expansion of Kangra Airport at Gaggal is pending before the Project Screening Committee. The Techno-Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR), a prerequisite for environmental clearances, is yet to be received. Only after the receipt of this report can the Government of India consider granting permission for forest clearance. Furthermore, the Court observes that the Obstacle Limitation Surface survey, another prerequisite for the construction or development of any airport, is still awaiting review by the competent authority,” the court stated.