Hurdles Continue for Gaggal Airport Expansion: Forest Clearance and Surveys Pending..

Shimla, November 25, 2024: The much-anticipated expansion of Kangra Airport at Gaggal continues to face delays, as the Himachal Pradesh High Court highlighted critical statutory roadblocks during a hearing on Monday.

The case, titled Gaggal Airport Expansion Affected Social Welfare Committee vs. The Principal Secretary (Tourism & CA), revealed that several essential permissions and surveys remain incomplete.

During the hearing of CWP No. 7846 of 2023, presided over by Justice Sandeep Sharma, it came to light that while land acquisition processes are underway and awards have been issued in some cases, key statutory compliances are still pending.

These include the approval for forest land diversion from the Government of India and the completion of the Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) survey—a crucial step for any airport development.

The court was informed that the Techno-Economic Feasibility Report (TEFR), a pre-requisite for obtaining environmental clearances, is yet to be submitted.

The pending approval from the Project Screening Committee further compounds the delay.

In light of these developments, Justice Sharma declined the state's request to withdraw its earlier assurance, made on December 7, 2023, that no residents would be dispossessed from their land under the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.

The court granted two weeks for the state to submit a fresh status report detailing progress on the pending statutory requirements.

The legal battle is being closely followed, with Senior Advocate Rita Goswami representing the petitioner and Additional Advocate General Pranay P. Singh appearing for the state.

Other respondents include the Union Government, represented by DSGI Balram Sharma, and multiple private parties.

As the state government continues its efforts to navigate these bureaucratic hurdles, affected residents and stakeholders remain uncertain about the project's future.

The court’s insistence on compliance with statutory norms reflects the delicate balance between development and legal obligations in this ambitious project.