Raisuan: Mineral-rich Keonjhar district generates hundreds of crores of rupees as revenue from its mining sector, but renovation of its only airstrip at Raisuan has been left halfway when work on the airports at Rourkela, Jeypore and Kalahandi is heading towards completion, reports said.
Various quarters in Keonjhar have decried the step-motherly neglect of the Centre to the airstrip as the project holds much importance to mineral-rich Keonjhar in terms of air connectivity necessary for quick travel of mineral traders, bosses and miners.
The Centre has been developing small aerodromes and airports across the country under Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAAN) scheme.
It may be mentioned here that Raisuan airstrip is said to be one of the oldest in the country. Alleged neglect to it has wounded sentiments of the people.
Reports said Jharsuguda airport has been operational while development of other airports at Rourkela, Jeypore and Kalahandi is in progress; their work is expected to be completed within the deadline.
Raisuan airstrip is only 7 km from Keonjhar town. The district is rich in terms of mineral reserves and industries.
According to mining and industrial experts, both the state and central governments have been earning thousands of crores of rupees from mining and industrial sectors, but they have forgotten to pay due attention to the development of the airstrip, which can boost communication to economic pockets, they lamented.
In view of the need for air connectivity for the mineral-rich district, the state government had sent a proposal to the Centre to develop the airstrip January 21, 2016.
The public works department had conducted a survey and proposed to the state government for acquisition of 22 acres. A plan was drawn up to develop it into a low-cost airport. Then a high-level delegation of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had visited the project area.
In 2011-12, Rs 1 crore was spent for raising a boundary wall. Besides, a runway with 920ft long and 30 metres wide was blacktopped. Thereafter, there has been no progress on its renovation, locals alleged.
It may be recalled that prominent leaders like Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi, Biju Patnaik and mining barons have landed and taken off from the airstrip.
Although the airstrip has seen many take-offs and landings, there have been no records for it.
From May 2010 till date, the airstrip has seen landing of over 400 planes, it was learnt.
People from various quarters have demanded quick steps by the state and central governments to make the airstrip full-fledged and operational in the larger interest of the mining and the industrial sector in the district.
PNN