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Dimapur, July 16 (EMN): While appreciating the Nagaland chief minister, Neiphiu Rio, for obtaining the ‘No Objection Certificate’ (NOC) for setting up an airport at the state capital Kohima, the Nagaland Public Rights Awareness and Action Forum (NPRAAF) has questioned whether NOC from the defence ministry was good enough to go ahead with purchase of land and construction of approach road and other needful development for establishing an airport.
A NPRAAF’s statement through its information and publicity cell also urged the chief minister to enlighten “whether the ministry of defence or civil aviation ministry is the right body to conduct survey and issue NOC.”
NPRAAF also questioned whether the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had conducted survey and issued eco-techno, feasibility and safety clearance for development of greenfield airport at proposed Chiethu airport.
Stating that it is a matter of pride to establish an airport at the state capital and that everyone should support such phenomenal initiatives, NPRAAF pointed out that it was not about NOC issued by defence ministry but the crux of the matter was “why the government has to acquired such a colossal area of land to be paid compensation without obtaining feasibility report and technical clearance from the AAI and civil aviation ministry.” Terming the issue as ‘paramount public importance,’ NPRAAF therefore urged the chief minister to clarify saying, “The issue doesn't only relates to development and paying off huge compensation but concerns the safety of future air passengers, which cannot be taken lightly.”