The district administration will consult the scientists of CWPRS Pune on the proposed project of expansion of Dharamsala Airport

Opinion sought on issues related to ecological aspects including runway bridge construction and environmental impact assessment

Dharamshala(Arvind Sharma)

22 November

Expert services of Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune will be taken in the implementation of the proposed project of expansion of Dharamsala  Airport at Gaggal.  Regarding this, a team of scientists from the Central Water and Power Research Institute is visiting the district for three days from Tuesday. This team will submit a feasibility report after an in-depth study of the construction of the airport runway bridge and every aspect related to it.Apart from this, the team will also advise on issues related to ecological aspects including environmental impact assessment of the project.

Deputy Commissioner Kangra Dr. Nipun Jindal took a meeting of all the concerned agencies including this team of scientists on Tuesday at Dharamsala and gave necessary guidelines.

Dr. Nipun Jindal said, “It  has been decided to form a district level committee with the help of the team of scientists from CWPRS Pune. Terms of reference have been fixed regarding their work. This committee will cooperate with the CWPRS team regarding the issues related to the construction of the proposed project.”

this committee constituted under the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner Dr. Nipun Jindal and will includeKangra’s Jal Shakti Department Dharamshala and Superintending Engineer of Public Works Department Palampur, Jal Shakti Department Shahpur, Kangra and Dharamshala and Executive Engineer of Public Works Department Shahpur and Kangra, Airport Authority of India Kangra Director, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) Deputy Manager and District Mining Officer .

Dr. Nipun Jindal informed that the district level committee will assist the team of scientists of CWPRS Pune to make a report mainly on five points related to the proposed construction.

1,To restore the water schemes built on Manjhi Khad and to maintain their natural flow and to give advice on ecological aspects.

2,Advising on durable structural construction at the upper and lower ends of the ravine.

3,Guiding for channelization of ravine and construction of check dam and construction of runway bridge.

4,To give an opinion regarding the need to declare the proposed runway bridge area as a completely mining prohibited area, if required.

5, Providing expert advice to the administration and the National Highways Authority of India regarding the proposed bridge construction on Manjhi Khad due to the re-alignment of the proposed Pathankot –Mandi NH.

The plan is to expand  Dharamsala  airport from the current length of 1,372 m to 3,110 m. The Union Ministry of Finance has already sanctioned Rs 400 crore for the airport expansion project.