Jahu better suited for airport, says ex-servicemen body

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Mandi, August 2

In the wake of resentment among Balh valley residents to construct an airport at Balh, an ex-servicemen’s body has said it is in favour of constructing an airport at Jahu, the tri-junction of Bilaspur, Mandi and Hamirpur districts.

10,000 families face displacement threat

The Balh Bachao Sangharsh Samiti is not in favour of constructing an airport at Balh. The samiti is not in a mood to give the fertile land for this ambitious project. Around 10,000 families will be displaced by this project and they will face rehabilitation problems.

The ex-Servicemen body from Baldwara tehsil in Mandi district has raised their voice to shift the proposed plan of airport from Balh to Jahu on merit basis.

Capt Jagdish Verma (retd), president of Honorary Commissioned Officers’ Welfare Association of Himachal Pradesh Branch office at Baldwara, said, “We are in favour of constructing an airport at Jahu, which is tri-junction of Mandi, Bilaspur and Hamirpur districts.”

He said that Balh Bachao Sangharsh Samiti was not in favour of this airport at Balh and they are not in a mood to give their fertile land for this ambitious project. Around 10,000 families would be displaced by this project and they would face rehabilitation problems.

“The recent technical survey carried out by the Airport Authority of India suggested that only small planes could land and take off from the proposed airport at Balh in Mandi district due to the presence of mountains near Sundernagar,” he remarked.

“So, the best idea would be to shift the venue from Balh to Jahu, a tri-junction of three districts,” he added.

“Balh area remains covered by thick fog till noon during winter which will not allow uninterrupted flight operations. Due to mountains in the vicinity, it would not be easy for Indian Air Force planes to operate,” he remarked.

The expenditure burden on the exchequer would be less at Jahu as displacement of families and their rehabilitation will not be there,” he remarked.

“In the event of even a conflict from Pakistan or China, the airport at Jahu would prove its worth for IAF planes to carry out its operations as this location has no obstructions. The association also appeals to the MLAs of Sarkaghat, Bhoranj and Ghumarwin to make such a proposal and put up before the Chief Minister highlighting the genuine merit of the case,” he added.