In a major boost to the security forces operating in the region to flush out Naxalites the district administration had decided to link Dantewada and Bijapur district headquarters of South Bastar by air service in a month.
The construction of airstrip will be started in a month but once after the approval of Forest department. Collector KC Dev Senapati said that paper and other land related procedure had already been completed, however, in Bijapur district, approval of the Forest department is yet to be received and because of that the work could not be started.
After land acquisition, within a month the PWD will start the work. This scheme of the State Government is being viewed as to mount pressure on the Maoists. With the construction of airstrip at Dantewada, the security forces could use it as airbase and aerial view on the Maoists could easily be maintained. Besides, it would make the activities of the forces easy while in ambush or in incidents and to save the personnel in serious conditions and to send backup forces immediately.
Fuel arrangement could also be made for chartered plane or helicopters. At present air activities are being conducted from the Jagdalpur based airport. In this regard officers of the division view the airstrip construction linked with VIP movement, however, they do not rule out its usage for forces.
Maoists have made their base in Bijapur and Sukma districts, but their think-tanks are still in Dantewada. In view of security, with the starting of air services facility in this area it would easy to keep an eye on the liberated zone of Maoists. Two years ago, in 2011, the state government had made a plan to construct airstrip at Maoist-infested Dantewada and Bijapur districts, but, as land for it could not be acquired, the plan had been suspended.
Now, the proceedings have been completed and the farmers have been given land in lieu of their land. Two years ago, PWD had completed the tender process for the airstrip to be constructed with a cost of Rs 6.5 crore. Bijapur Collector Mohd Abdul Kaisar Haq said that land had been selected for the airstrip. Process for acquiring revenue and private land has been completed but acquisition of about 43 hectares land could not be done due to lack of clearance from the Forest department. Proposal for this has been sent to secretariat.
Whereas, Dantewada collector KC Dev Senapati said that land acquisition process would be completed in a month. Fencing and leveling of land are yet to be done. VIP movement would be made easy with the construction of the airstrip. PWD chief engineer AK Mandhan said that tender process for construction of airstrip at Dantewada has been completed. On getting the land the work would be started and the SOR would be revised.
Eighty-seven hectare land had been acquired for construction of airstrip at Bijapur, of which 24 hectare are revenue, 20 hectare private and 43 hectare are forest land.