HC orders early removal of structures within 100 m of Chandigarh airport
The order was passed by the high court bench of chief justice RS Jha and justice Arun Palli during resumed hearing of a plea pending since 2015 over infrastructural deficiencies at the Chandigarh airport
The Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday asked civic authorities in Mohali to take early steps for removal of remaining structures within 100-metre boundary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh International Airport.
The order was passed by the high court bench of chief justice RS Jha and justice Arun Palli during resumed hearing of a plea pending since 2015 over infrastructural deficiencies at the airport.
As the hearing began, Punjab’s advocate general, Vinod Ghai, apprised the court that Zirakpur MC had removed illegal structures and letters of intent (LoI) had been issued to all residential structures identified in 2019 that were raised post 2011.
As per a 2019 survey, there are 314 structures falling within 100 metres of the airport in Pabhat village under Zirakpur MC. Of these, the illegal structures are estimated to be 98 in number.
In March 2011, construction within the 100-metre periphery of the airport was banned through a notification issued under the Works of Defence Act, 1903.
Earlier, the court was apprised that steps were being taken to determine compensation to be paid by the Indian Air Force for structures existing prior to cut-off date of 2011.
The collector-cum-Dera Bassi SDM has already invited claims and objections. The last date for submission, which was August 8, has been extended to August 18 due to the flood-like situation prevailing in the district in July. The process for determination of compensation will be completed within eight weeks, the Punjab government assured the court.
The division bench, while deferring the hearing, directed Punjab to file a fresh status report on the demolition process on the adjourned date.
During the hearing, the court also directed GMADA to complete the process for early completion of alternative route to the airport within six months.
The Chandigarh administration is planning a parallel shorter route to the airport via Sector 48. The new road will start from the T-point intersection of Vikas Marg in Sector 48 (coming from Sector-43 ISBT) and Purv Marg (coming from Tribune Chowk).
The current distance from this intersection to the airport is 11.5 km after traversing through Mohali. The shorter route will reduce this to around 3.5 km, thereby bringing the travel time down from 25 minutes to 5 minutes.
A total of 56 acres needs to be acquired for the project of which 42 acres fall in Chandigarh and the remaining 14 acres in Punjab’s Jagatpura and Khandala villages. GMADA is also working on another shorter route, which will be constructed within Mohali limits.