Villagers are up against arms against the proposed international airport at Gamharia. A technical survey for the proposed Tata Steel international airport at Gamharia could not begin due to strong protest by a section of local villagers.
The villagers also set up a blockade at Murgaguttu, one of the villages coming under the proposed airport project, intending to prevent any from the district administration or from any other organisation concerned. Armed with traditional weapons, about 2,000 villagers staged dharna at Murgaguttu village, declaring that they would not allow anyone to enter the proposed airport site.
A similar survey was stopped from taking place at Murgaguttu in April last year, when the agitated villagers blocked the passage for the entry of any officials for the necessary survey. Superintendent of police, Seraikela-Kharsawan, Indrajit Mahtha said that the administration was ready to provide the necessary support for conducting the survey.
"A technical survey for the proposed airport project was supposed to begin. But till the late afternoon no one turned up for the survey," said Mahtha. He pointed out that they would provide the police security only when the team of Tata Steel will turn up for the survey.
The Rs 400-crore Tata Steel international airport in Gamharia block is stuck over land acquisition tangle. The Tata International Airport project has already received the approval from the directorate general of civil aviation, Government of India, in February 2012. On the basis of a feasibility report for the airport project submitted by the Seraikela-Kharsawan district administration, the State Cabinet has also given its nod.
But the project is not making headway due to the hindrance by a section of local villagers. The protestors, under the banner of Bhumi Rakshya Sangharsh Samity (BRSS) are adament not to part with their land for the airport project.
A BRSS functionary, said that they are opposed to the airport project at their villages as it will jeopardise the life of so many people.