The State and Centre seem to be playing a blame game on developing the Rangeilunda airstrip in Ganjam district into a full-fledged airport. Higher Education Minister Pradeep Panigrahi here on Sunday said the State Government has appealed to the Centre to upgrade the airstrip into a full-fledged airport, whereas Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapati Raju during his recent visit to the city said that his Ministry had not received any proposal from the State Government in this regard. After such a statement by the Union Minister, several organisations started urging the State Government to recommend the concerned Ministry to develop the airstrip.
“The State Government has appraised the Centre on expansion of the airstrip long back. Even, the process of acquisition of land required the same is going on. In this context, the Union Minister’s statement is meant to create confusion,” said Panigrahi.
He also added that if the Union Government does not take any steps in this regard, the State Government would take the responsibility to expand the airstrip. Notably, though detail project reports (DPRs) have been made for expansion of the airstrip, the proposal is yet to get the Government’s approval.