Ibobi Singh: Optimistic

Imphal, May 8: Manipur chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh today informed the state Assembly that Imphal airport would soon be upgraded to a modern one with night landing facilities.

He said a team from the International Airport Authority of India (IAAI) came here last month and discussed the project with him and other state government officials.

The IAAI will submit the project report to the state very soon.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had approved the project during his visit to Manipur last year.

Imphal airport is one among several in the country selected for upgradation. The airport is being developed in view of the Centre’s Look East policy.

The state government is planning to acquire 500 acres of land around the existing airport for the development.

However, Ibobi Singh expects opposition to the project from the people residing around the airport.

The fear is based on a recent experience. Farmers were strongly opposed to a move by the Ibobi Singh government last month to acquire 300 acres of agricultural land near Manipur University in Imphal for setting up a National Institute of Technology.

Assuring the residents that land acquisition for the airport would not affect the existing residential areas, Ibobi Singh said the required land would be obtained from agricultural land surrounding the airport, with adequate compensation.

Appealing to the residents to co-operate with the government, Ibobi Singh said the airport would have space to accommodate at least 10 aircraft at a time. The existing one can accommodate only four aircraft.

To avail of night landing facilities, a signal tower would have to be constructed atop Nongmaiching hill in Imphal East district.

The airport authorities have requested the deployment of paramilitary forces to protect the tower, once it is completed.

The chief minister also said the central bus terminus at Imphal’s Dewlaland would be expanded to make it a modern bus station. For this, the government is planning to acquire 10 acres of land.

He said the government had earmarked Rs 10 crore in this year’s budget for the development plan.

Responding to the Opposition’s demand to halt allocation of government land in the city to private parties, Ibobi Singh said a cabinet sub-committee headed by him was looking into the matter.

No government land can be allotted in the Greater Imphal area without the clearance of the sub-committee. The restriction was imposed in view of various development projects coming up in the city, he added.