Unauthorised slum adjacent of Bokaro airport boundary wall has put a halt on the expansion and development work of the airport.
People residing in the slum surrounding the airport have broken the newly constructed boundary wall three times earlier and now they have made a big hole in the wall to use the inside area for open defecation, said a contract worker engaged in expansion work.
The city was scheduled to be connected from Kolkata and Patna airports from 25 December 2018, under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). Chief Minister Raghubar Das had laid the foundation stone for expansion of the airport on 25 August 2018. But, due to several hurdles and political tug of war the expansion activity got delayed.
Expressing deep concern over the delay in completion of work the Airport Authority of India (AAI) Manager Simerdeep Singh requested Bokaro Deputy Commissioner for earliest removal of encroachments surrounding to the airport.
“Earlier in a meeting, we have also discussed the issue with the state secretary,” he added.
The encroachment should have been removed earlier but it could not be done, he said. Over 400 houses (huts) along with Khatals are at this unauthorised slum in Sector XII of the Bokaro Steel City’s township area.
