Paradip township. Telegraph picture

Paradip, April 25: Hopes for execution of an airstrip project here have been rekindled with the settlement of a land row between the state government and the Paradip Port Trust.

The project had failed to take off because of a long-standing land dispute between the government and the PPT.

“As the land dispute was settled amicably, there are positive signs for the re-launch of the project,” said additional district magistrate Surajit Das. The PPT had laid claim to a plot at Bhitargada on the outskirts of this town which was earmarked for the airstrip project. At present, the state-owned Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) possesses the land. The PPT had earlier moved court challenging acquisition of the said land by the Idco claiming that the port trust had legal rights over the land under provisions of the Major Ports of India Act.

However, the PPT had recently agreed to withdraw the litigation and part with the land for the airstrip project, said the additional district magistrate.

“A consensus has emerged with regard to the disputed plot,” said Jagatsinghpur district collector Narayan Chandra Jena.

The state government had asked for land within the port limits for construction of an airstrip, government offices, places of worship, the Orissa Maritime Academy, a fisheries department block and an extension of irrigation canal. However, the PPT had refused to part with the land citing the Major Ports of India Act and the Public Premises Act.

With the Centre approving establishment of a petroleum, chemical and petro-chemical investment region (PCPIR), the importance of this port town has gone up manifold. Moreover, Paradip also awaits to be an industrial hub with two major steel projects, oil refinery and scores of ancillary industrial units queuing up to set up units here.

At present, the port town does not have any air connectivity.

“The state government is intent on having an airstrip of its own. The Union civil aviation ministry has already given its seal of approval to the project. An airstrip is an essential infrastructure requirement considering the industrial growth in Paradip and its neighbouring areas. The project still remains on the top of the administration’s agenda,” said Das.