HC orders for com on airport

The Gauhati High Court has ordered the Centre to constitute a committee to study the feasibility for construction of Green Field Airport in Itanagar and also asked it to visit the proposed sites both at Karsingsa and Hollongi and submit a report within a month.
The Court in its order also said the central government may constitute a committee headed by retired Justice A C Upadhyay as chairman to visit both the sites and pursue the records and gives its report at the earliest, as far as possible within four weeks.
The ambitious project has of late ran into rough weather after the state government decided to shift its site from Karsingsa near Banderdewa to Hollongi in view of the technical suitability and operational safety of the site which, sparked public outcry in the state.

The foundation stone for the project was laid on February 20, 2007 by the then Union Home Minister Shivraj V Patil while the no-objection certificate from the Defence Ministry as well as the environment clearance for the airport was also obtained, and a public hearing was conducted on December 4, 2009.
The court in its judgment passed on August 30 last ordered formation of the committee after hearing a PIL case filed by Taniang Kipa challenging the proposal to shift the project to Hollongi.
The court in the order said that in the name of providing facilities to the public, authorities occupying public offices cannot take decision to advance their individual private interest.

The case is listed for further hearing on October 8 next.