"Dolu was found most suitable for construction of airport," Minister in Parliament; "No formal proposal yet," 

From the Lok Shabha, Member of Parliament, Pradyut Bordoloi had asked a set of questions to the Central Ministry of Civil Aviation regarding the construction of the Greenfield Airport at the Dolu tea estate in Silchar.

The construction of the proposed Airport had caused numerous protests and brought with it tons of questions.

MP Pradyut Bordoloi begins by asking if the Central Ministry of Civil Aviation is actually aware of the Assam Government’s decision to construct the Airport, by clearing the entire Dolu tea estate and uprooting almost 3 million tea plants, causing a loss of livelihood for nearly 2000 workers. He demanded clear justification in case.

He then asked if the Union Government has recognised the protests made by these helpless tea garden workers, and what consultatory measures it has decided to adopt to pacify the workers. The MP even asks if the Union Government has actually received any formal proposal from the state Government of Assam that the Airport will be constructed in Dolu, Cachar.

In the official reply, Gen. (Dr) VK Singh, MoS of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, clarifies certain burning questions. It was said that on the request of the Government of Assam, the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had conducted a prep feasibility study in January 2020 for three sites identified by the State Government for construction of the Greenfield Airport. Seemingly, the site at Dolu was found to be the most suitable one. A report, along with Master Plan indicating land requirement of 870 acres for A-321 type of aircraft operations in all weather conditions had been sent to the Govt of Assam by AAI. Pursuant to this report, Government of Assam has acquired land for developing the Greenfield Airport at Dolu. He states that as per the Greenfield Airports Policy, 2008, implementation of a Greenfield Airport Project including site identification, land acquisition, project financing, obtaining necessary clearances etc. turns out to be the responsibility of the State Govt/Project proponent.

Under the GFA (Greenfield Airports) Policy of 2008, the Airport developer or the state Government that desires to establish a Greenfield Airport is required to send a proposal to the Ministry of Civil Aviation in the prescribed format, as provided at www.civilaviation.govt. in for 2-stage process— site clearance and In principle approval. Based ln the AAI report, the Assam State Govt has acquired the land but the Union Ministry still has not received any formal proposal.