Haryana Congress MLA Randeep Singh Surjewala has taken strong exception to the recent decision of the Central government to set up an international airport at Jewar in Uttar Pradesh, saying that the interests of Haryana were being sacrificed at the “altar of political expediency”.
‘State has no airport’
Mr. Surjewala, who represents Kaithal in the Haryana Legislative Assembly, said that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government had granted in-principle approval for a green field airport in the State in 2013-14. The present BJP government in Haryana, he said, had failed to protect the State’s claim. He added that the Centre had made a unilateral announcement about setting up an international airport at Jewar, ignoring Haryana’s claim for one at Jhajjar, Meham or Karnal.
‘Act of deception’
“Haryana does not have a single airport, national or international, for commercial air traffic. The previous Haryana government had suggested Meham, Jhajjar and Karnal for setting up an international airport. The Ministry of Civil Aviation had conducted a survey and given in-principle approval. But after the government at the Centre changed, the new BJP government put the project on the back burner. For three years, the people of Haryana waited, but in an act of deception the Union government has proceeded to shift the airport to Uttar Pradesh,” said a statement issued by Mr. Surjewala.
He has now appealed to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to take up the issue with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Published - June 26, 2017 12:55 am IST