Tuesday, December 17, 2013

17 families identified as airport project-affected, five evacuated to safer locations

GANGTOK, 16 Dec: As of now a total of 17 families have been identified as project affected and in danger, living in close proximity to the Pakyong Airport.  Five of these families have also been evacuated to safer locations.
The DC East, Jitendra Singh Raje informs that while there could be an increase in the number of houses susceptible to damage in the vicinity of the airport, the number, as of now, is at 17 as assessed by the SDM Pakyong along with other government agencies.
The assessment of damage compensation is underway and is being undertaken by the Building and Housings Department. However, and as informed by the DC, assessment of damage compensation has been completed for the 5 evacuated families. The total compensation amount to be paid to them for house and property has been assessed at Rs. 3.29 crore. This amount will be handed to them once approved by the government.
It needs to be mentioned that the decision to identify and relocate houses and families which were assessed to be in danger due to their close proximity to the airport project was taken by the government and it had already been agreed upon to compensate them adequately.
It is also stated by the DC East that damage compensation to families living in the houses above the road to the airport has already been disbursed. The latest round of assessing damages and identifying of houses which were in high risk of sustaining damages was taken up recently.
Just a few days ago the Relief Commissioner along with Tourism Secretary and the District Collector had visited the site to take stock of progress and to assess the damage to land and buildings around the project site. It was then directed to the SDM, Pakyong, to prepare a consolidated proposal on compensation and other damages.
The above mentioned identification of 17 families, as of now, including the evacuation of 5 of the families is subsequent to this directive. The damage assessment of Rs.3.29 crore is for house and associated property of the 5 evacuated families and it is informed that assessment of damage compensation of other families is under progress.
The damages pertain to structural faults due to the project work including cracks and also signs of sinking in some places. Apart from that, it is informed, that these properties and houses of the identified families are to be acquired by the government under the Land Acquisition Act.
The 5 evacuated families have been relocated and their rent in their new quarters is being provided by the Airports Authority, which is undertaking the Pakyong Airport construction. The evacuation of the rest of the identified families is also under consideration.

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