Kodatarai Airport faces villagers’ protest over land, connectivity concerns
Villagers say airport project will cut access to fields and increase travel distance.
Raigarh | Correspondent: Farmers are protesting against the proposed Kodatarai Airport, located just 10 kilometers from the Raigarh district headquarters.
Opposing the land acquisition, the farmers even handed over a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister. Additionally, they demanded cancellation of the airport project.
If the airport is built up, the villages will be cut off from one another, while Farmers will have to travel nearly 10 kilometers to reach their fields, which are currently located close to their homes.
According to them, the proposed layout passes through the boundaries of all four villages. This will not only lead to land acquisition but also disturb daily movement between villages and farmlands. Farmers said the land is irrigated through canals and tube wells, and they grow two crops every year. For this, they need to visit their fields multiple times a day. If the distance increases, it will raise diesel costs and require more time and labour. Villagers said this is not just about compensation if access to fields becomes difficult, compensation will have little value.
Administration begins survey
Villagers said that Patwari and the Revenue Inspector (RI) are surveying land in the area. Around 650 acres of land over a stretch of about 10 kilometers is likely to be acquired. This may also lead to the demolition of houses in some parts of Kodatarai and Jakela.
Farmers pointed out that an airstrip has existed in the area since 1995, which has been used by several VIPs, including Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers. They suggested that the existing facility should be expanded instead of acquiring new land.
Concern over roads and traffic, demands to cancel project
The memorandum also raised concerns about the impact on National Highway-153 and the Pusaur–NTPC Lara–Bargarh road. Villagers fear this could affect traffic movement in the region.
Villagers have submitted their memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding that the Kodatarai airport project be cancelled. They warned that if their concerns about connectivity and livelihood are not addressed, they will intensify their protest.
Allegation of acquisition without consent
Villagers alleged that land is being acquired without the consent of farmers, which they say is against their rights. They said the project could make many families homeless and affect the livelihood of hundreds of people. They also repeated that farmers will have to travel around 10 kilometers to reach their fields if the airstrip is built, which will directly impact farming activities.
