Expressing satisfaction over the progress of construction work of the Jharsuguda Airport, Chief Secretary GC Pati on Thursday said this vital infrastructure would provide momentum to the growing industrial activities in the area.
Speaking to mediapersons during his visit here, Pati said the land acquisition for the phase-I of the airport is almost complete and efforts are on to make the airport operational at the earliest.
It should be noted that on July 31 this year, the State Government inked an MoU with the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for developing a no-frills airport at Jharsuguda at a cost of Rs 210 crore, out of which the State Government would provide Rs75 crore.
The plan for the Jharsuguda Airport includes construction of 5,500 sqmetre of a new terminal building and a new air traffic control (ATC) tower. A parking space for nearly 200 cars, conveyer belts and boundary wall would also be built.The Chief Secretary said he reviewed the progress of all projects in Sambalpur and Jharsuguda districts and he was satisfied over the progress of work in a majority of the projects.
“However, required corrective measures will be taken soon to ensure early completion of the ones where delay has occurred,” said Pati. More thrust would be given to the less polluting industries with better employment generation potential, he said.
Regarding disposal of fly ash generated from big power plants in the areas, Pati said the Government would expedite measures for disposal of the pollutants. He also underscored the need for increasing the production of bricks constructed from fly ash.
The Chief Secretary was on a two-day visit to the western Odisha districts. During the first day, he had reviewed various projects of Sambalpur district.