Jolt for CM as villagers oppose airport at Balh

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, June 14

The Balh Bachao Sangharash Samiti has opposed the proposed airport at Balh valley in Mandi district.

The villagers have demanded that the proposed airport be shifted to another place, as the people of Balh valley are not ready to give their ancestral land for the project

It may come as a big jolt to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, who has been working hard to set up an international airport in Mandi district to give a boost to the tourism sector.

A few days ago, the Chief Minister had said most probably the airport would be finalised at Balh as the land was adequate for the proposed 5-km long runway between Nagchala to Nerchowk. He also appealed to the public to be ready to sacrifice their land for his dream project.

Today, a group of villagers under the banner of Balh Bachao Sangharash Samiti met Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi at his residence and urged him to convince the Chief Minister to shift the proposal of the airport to another place.

Joginder Walia, spokesperson of the samiti, said out of the total 3,500 bighas, 3,019 bighas would be private land and 5,000 families would be displaced.

Citing an example, he said the Chandigarh-Manali four-laning had affected them because of the poor response of the state government, which failed to implement the Land Acquisition Act 2013 to compensate and rehabilitate the affected families.

“There are two other sites such as Nerdhangu and Mangarh available in Mandi district, where the state government can construct an airport and there will be less displacement of people”, he remarked.

Walia said, “We met Balh MLA Inder Singh Gandhi over the issue and apprised him of the apprehension of the people, who will be displaced from the region. He assured us that he will take up the matter with the Chief Minister.”

Last month, officials of the Airports Authority of India had conducted a survey of four sites in Mandi district for the feasibility of an airport. Soon, they will submit their report to the state government and any decision will be taken after that.

Thakur’s dream project 

A few days ago, the Chief Minister had said, most probably the site for the airport would be finalised at Balh, as the land was adequate for the proposed 5-km long runway between Nagchala to Nerchowk. He also appealed to the public to be ready to sacrifice their land for his dream project