The Air Officer Commanding in Chief, Headquarters, Training Command, Indian Air Force, Bangalore, Air Marshal Ramesh Rai, on Tuesday called on Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao at the latter’s office in the Telangana Secretariat to discuss various aspects related with establishing a full fledged Air Force Station (AFS) at Adilabad. He is understood to have sought speeding up of the process of land acquisition, to the extent of 1,500 acres, for the proposed facility in and around the existing aerodrome in this town.
Meanwhile, the Air Force Station, Begumpet, has requested Adilabad district administration to provide approximate cost for establishing a 2 MVA power sub station and realignment of the Khanapur-Anukunta road which runs through the land proposed to be acquired for the AFS. The administration had already submitted the estimated cost of Rs. 15 crore for supply of water to the AFS.
The process for establishment of the AFS has evidently come on fast track given the latest development. A senior officer from the Begumpet AFS is likely to arrive here sometime this week to discuss some aspects with the district administration, according to sources.
Meanwhile, villagers in Kachkanti, Khanapur, Anukunta and Tantoli, who will lose lands, are worried over the compensation package they will be offered. They have so far not been contacted by the administration to apprise them of the developments.
Mr. Ramesh Rai, also reviewed the functioning of Air Force Station, Begumpet. The Air Marshal was presented with a Guard of Honour on his arrival after which he inspected various installations of the Station and its Lodger Units. Addressing the personnel of the station, the Air Marshal stressed the necessity of each and every member of the elite organization to further enhance the professional acumen. He also expressed his satisfaction over the active participation of the Station in the ongoing Flood Relief Operations in Jammu and Kashmir.
