Odisha to Acquire Land for Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri. The Odisha government plans to acquire 221 acres of land in the Sipasarubali and Sandhapur areas under Brahmagiri tehsil for the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Puri. This project is part of a larger plan to develop a greenfield airport covering 1,164 acres.
Public Hearings Announced
Puri Sub-Collector Rajkishore Jena announced that public hearings will be held to address concerns about the land acquisition process. The hearing for Sipasarubali is scheduled for March 21 at the village field, while the hearing for Sandhapur will take place on March 28 at the Kalyan Mandap in the village. These sessions aim to provide information about the process and explain compensation packages to those affected.
Compensation Plan for Affected Families
The government has prepared a comprehensive rehabilitation package for families impacted by the land acquisition. The provisions include:
1. Displacement Allowance: ₹5 lakh per displaced family.
2. Housing Assistance: ₹3.39 lakh for building a new house.
3. Relocation Support: ₹1.13 lakh for moving household items.
4. Livelihood Assistance: ₹54,300 to support families for one year.
5. Business Support: ₹25,000 to help set up small shops.
These measures comply with the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation, and Resettlement Act, 2013.
Environmental Clearances and Assessments
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has approved the conversion of 25 acres of forest land for airport use. A socio-economic impact assessment has also been conducted to evaluate how the project will affect local communities.
Background and Current Progress
The idea of an international airport in Puri gained traction in 2021 when Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik proposed it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In October 2023, the Ministry of Civil Aviation approved site clearance for the project.
The airport will be developed in three phases at an estimated cost of ₹5,631 crore. Major infrastructure companies like Fairfax Group, Adani Group, and GMR Group have expressed interest in building this airport, which is expected to enhance connectivity and boost tourism in Odisha.
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