Guwahati Aerotropolis Project: GMDA suspends building permits amid opposition from locals

Guwahati: Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) has suspended the processing of building permits, land sale permission applications, and imposed other restrictions within the proposed aerotropolis around Guwahati airport.The suspension affects the revenue villages of Garal, Mirzapur, and Azara. Hundreds of indigenous families from these villages are opposing the decision and are unwilling to vacate their lands for the project.The latest notification issued by the chief executive officer of GMDA said in view of the proposed development of the aerotropolis at Guwahati, near LGBI Airport, and in response to a letter from the circle officer of Azara Revenue Circle dated Aug 12, the processing of all planning permits, building permits, and land sale permission applications within the proposed aerotropolis area has been temporarily suspended until further orders.The Azara Revenue Circle, located on the outskirts of Guwahati, is rapidly developing despite the rural landscape visible in the area on the western side of old Guwahati.In July, the Kamrup (Metro) district administration served land acquisition notices to hundreds of pattadars (people holding land rights) to execute the aerotropolis development plan.According to locals, an estimated 83 bighas of land in Azara, 70 bighas in Garal, and up to 257 bighas in Mirzapur will be acquired by the govt if the families receiving the notices are evicted.

Though a delegation of families recently met CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, expecting relief, the imposition of land sale curbs and other restrictions has puzzled them.Akan Chandra Das, president of Mirzapur Anchalik Bhumi Suraksha Samiti, said, “We were informed by some revenue officials that the residential plots of the lands will be spared from the land acquisition process. We also met Kamrup Metro DC to consider our demands, and after that no major progress of the proposed Aerotropolis project was visible.

But the latest notice from GMDA has curbed our rights as landowners. We oppose such a move when we were expecting some relief.

”According to the affected families, since post-independence, their ancestors have given land to the govt for the development of the airport, adjacent roads, and defence establishments near Guwahati airport nine to ten times based on land requirements. They are now unwilling to cede any more land.