Memorandum for operationalization of the proposed Jharsuguda airport
Sanjib Kumar Karmee
Sub: Memorandum for operationalization of the proposed Jharsuguda airport
To,
Shri Naveen Patnaik, Honorable Chief Minister of Odisha
cc:
Dr. Manmohan Singh, honourable Prime Minister of India
Smt. Partibha Patil, honourable President of India
Smt. Sonia Gandhi, honourable UPA chairperson
Smt. Sushma Swaraj, honourable leader of opposition
Shri Praful Patel Honourable Minister for Civil Aviation
Members of Parliament from Orissa
Airports Authority of India
Dear esteemed Shri. Naveen Patnaik, CM of Odisha,
Jharsuguda town is emerging as one of the economic hubs of India. It has many industrial units which need no introduction viz. Ultratech Cement of the Aditya Birla Group at Dhutra (India's largest cement manufacturing company), SMC Power Generation Ltd., Action Ispat Ltd., Eastern Steel & Power Ltd., and SPS Steel & Power Ltd., and Utkal Alumina International Ltd.
Recently, it is reported that Jharsuguda will be the highest electric power producing town of India [1]. Industrial giants like Vedanta Aluminum Limited (VAL), Reliance Energy and Sterlite Energy Limited are developing power plants at Jharsuguda.
As Jharsuguda is emerging as a fastest growing town in Odisha; it is also witnessing huge migration of work-force from all parts of India. To cater this need an airport is essential. The Jharsuguda airstrip was build during World War II. There is a proposal to make this fully operational. However, the state government is yet to realize the importance of this airport as evident from the following highlights as reported by various media sources:
● It was reported that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has decided to upgrade the airstrip at Jharsuguda into a full-fledged airport. So, the government has decided to opt for a public-private partnership for the work. In this regard, SREI a Kolkata based finance company, had expressed interest and was negotiating with the government [2]; but so far nothing has happened
● Recently the CM has informed to the Odisha legislative assembly that the AAI is considering the proposal of the state government for developing the Jharasuguda airport and it has asked for the required 815 acres of land for free of cost. Responding to this the state govt. has requested the AAI to scale down their requirement of land as only 734 acres of land is available near the airport [3].
● It is also reported that a company called Jain steel is an obstacle for developing the Jharsuguda airport [4].
After analyzing these reports about Jharsuguda airport; we can come to the conclusion that nothing much has happened in the past ten years. Are these announcements about making Jharsuguda airport operational only sweet talk? Are we are going to see any passenger plane
arriving or taking off in the near future? Is this the outcome of the persistent efforts of our leaders?
Sir,
We urge you to take following steps to make the Jharsuguda airport operational:
● Odisha govt. should provide the required 815 acres of land to the AAI. Providing 734 acres of land might hinder the future expansion of the airport. Moreover, if the govt. is capable of acquiring land for building industries and dams; why can’t it acquire land for the development of an airport?
● Govt. should complete the land acquisition for Jharsuguda airport at the earliest.
● Very soon our neighboring state Andhra Pradesh will have two international airports. The Odisha govt. should propose the AAI to make Jharsuguda an international airport. There is also possibility of connecting Jharsuguda with direct flight to China and Korea as Vedanta group is employing many Chinese and Korean nationals at its Jharsuguda plant. This will further encourage Buddhist tourism in the region viz. at Ganiapali of Bargarh and Baud town of western Odisha.
● Presently, Jharsuguda airport can accommodate F27 type plane [5]. Therefore, facilitation of small commercial flight should be encouraged.
● Odisha govt. should implement the master plan to be submitted by the administrative staff college of Hyderabad for Jharsuguda town to make it a 21st century city [6]. In addition, the Odisha govt. should push for establishing some state and national level institutes in this town.
In this regard, immediate operationalization of Jharsuguda airport is essential to cater the need of whole western Odisha. This will accelerate the socio-economic condition of this region. Therefore, we urge you to take necessary steps to make this airport ready.
Thank you and best regards,
Sanjib Kumar Karmee
Members of the Koshal Discussion and Development Forum (KDDF)
Note: Please see the attachment.
Reference:
1.Jharsuguda will be the highest electrical power producing town of India: http://wp.me/pFC4h-Gu
2. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080409/jsp/nation/story_9112108.jsp
3.Orissa government urges Airports Authority of India (AAI) to scale down land requirement for Jharsuguda airport: http://wp.me/pFC4h-FX
4. Is Jain steel plant an obstacle for Jharsuguda airport?: http://wp.me/pFC4h-Gn
5. http://www.aai.aero/misc/policy_main.jsp#4
6.http://www.urbanorissa.gov.in/(S(ifpzum45irq4o5vsggknog45))/default.aspx; http://www.odisha.in/news/129/ARTICLE/1705/2007-10-25.html
Acknowledgment: We are grateful to the members of “orissatoday”, “focusorissa”, “myodisa” and other e-groups for fruitful discussions and inputs.
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Dr.Sanjib Kumar Karmee, PhD
Department of Biotechnology
Delft University of Technology
Julianalaan 136, 2628 BL Delft,
The Netherlands
www.bt.tudelft.nl/boc