Jeypore Airport expansion faces major land acquisition hurdle

Efforts to expand the Jeypore Airport in Odisha hit a significant roadblock after a gram sabha held on Sunday in the Bankobija, Ekamba, and Souraguda villages under the Jeypore block to discuss the proposed expansion.

However, the gram sabha discussions remained inconclusive as the villagers expressed their fear of displacement even after assurance from government officials.

Land Required for Jeypore Airport Expansion:

Sources said that the authorities had prepared for the acquisition of nearly 250 acres of land from these three villages. 44 acres of this proposed land belong to the government while 205 acres are privately owned.

A total of 96.92 acres in Bankobija, 65.1 acres in Ekamba, and 67.47 acres of land in Souraguda are proposed to be included within the Jeypore airport limits but are privately owned.

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Villagers’ Concerns:

During the gram sabha in Bankobija, villagers voiced strong opposition to the land acquisition, citing fears of displacement and loss of livelihood. Additionally, they voiced concerns regarding the difficulty in relocating, as they would lose their agricultural land and access to amenities.

“We saw the map shown by the administration and places like the railway station and the district medical fall under the red zone. More than 60 percent of the population will be affected due to this land acquisition,” said Bipin Mohapatra, a local resident.

Further, the locals demanded the state government to take alternate routes, such as to develop Jeypore airport as a greenfield airport.

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Administration’s Response:

Jeypore Tehsildar Sabyasachi Jena stated there was no need for any concern or fear. He added that many locals believed that the administration would take away their land, but the sole purpose of the gram sabha meeting was to hold discussions.

“In the meeting, we noted down the grievances brought forward by the local residents. Despite the preparation of a map, there will be many surveys like a social impact survey, which will determine the feasibility of this project,” he added.

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However, even after prolonged discussions, no concrete resolution was reached. Meanwhile, written records of the villagers’ grievances were done and the administrative officials stated that necessary steps would be taken to resolve these issues in the future.