last week the Union Cabinet approved the proposal of opening new airports in 50 towns of the country in which Hazaribagh is also included. The cabinet has also made it clear that these airports will be built on minimum or low cost. Since 1944-45 this will be the fourth attempt to build Hazaribagh airport.
Now the denizens are eagerly waiting for the process to be started. In the year 1945-46 through the record no. 2/45-46, 27.37 acres land was acquired by the district administration for Hazaribagh airstrip in village Nagvan on Hazaribagh-Patna Road.
Then in the year 1951-52 through the record no.19/ 51-52, 6.198 acres more land was acquired. Thus the district administration acquired 33.568 acres land for air strip.
After acquisition of land the district administration received allotment for the construction concrete air strip and boundary thrice, but every time it was returned to civil aviation department.
In 2006-07 the district administration has received `3 crores for concreting and Ash Fault Construction through the letter no. 815 dated 12.02.07. In May 2008 the administration got sanction for the construction of boundary wall with a cost of rupees 69.697 laces.
The responsibility for construction the boundary was given to building division. But the building division returned the money to the DRDA saying that the villagers are not cooperating. Then the work was given to NREP. This department also refused to do the work. lastly the construction responsibility was given to special division.
The department started the work but due to villagers’ protest the work stopped and is still pending.
The villagers have filed a case in the Ranchi High Court which is still pending and finally the amount was returned once again.
The villagers say that though the Government claims that the land has been acquired but we are still in the possession of land and our ancestors have never taken any compensation from the government for the said land.
Ten years ago, a four seater plane had landed on this strip. After that this strip is occasionally used for landing the helicopters. No cargo plane has ever landed on Hazaribagh air strip. Once again the Pandora box of Hazaribagh airport has been opened by the Government.
The denizens of Hazaribagh know that such attempts have failed thrice here and everyone is eagerly waiting for the outcome of result of this fourth attempt.