Malda's land acquisition department has
started surveying the acquisition of additional five acres
of land, on the west of the existing air strip, in English
Bazaar town.
Earlier, the department sent a survey report to the transport
department, proposing 50 acres to be acquired on the west
of the present air strip. Urged by the airport authorities,
recently, the additional chief secretary has asked the Malda
administration to prepare a proposal for the acquisition.
According to the district officials, the state government
was keen on knowing about the land features, to be acquired,
in a bid to estimate its cost. The additional land acquisition
aims to extend run-ways on the west to evade the east's obstruction
by high rise buildings and mobile towers. Conducting a survey,
two days ago, the district land acquisition department has
planned to send the final report of additional five acre land
to the transport department, this week. A political initiative
was taken to restore the Malda airport with the revival project
of Cooch Behar. n SNS