The Hindu : National : Residents oppose airport extension

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 13, 2007
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National

Residents oppose airport extension

Special Correspondent

PATNA: Entire families of about half a dozen colonies in Bhagalpur came out on the streets and virtually drove away an Airports Authority of India team, which came to survey runway extension at the local airport on Tuesday.

Demonstration

On Monday too the locals staged a demonstration. On Tuesday, they became agitated on seeing the AAI team, feeling that district authorities had given them a false assurance. The survey officials beat a retreat when the Awas Bachchao Sangharsh Samiti took to the streets, with residents fearing demolition and displacement. Women and small children joined the protesters, who demanded that the airport be shifted beyond the city limits.

The residents were not satisfied with official claims that their houses would not be touched and that the runway extension project would in no way lead to their displacement. The demonstrators raised slogans against the BJP MP, Shahnawaz Hussain, and Urban Development Minister Ashwini Chaubey, who represents Bhagalpur in the Assembly.

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