Amarda Airstrip: Odisha Minister Hits Back At Tudu, Says No Need For Special Programme For Land Transfer

Bhubaneswar: A day after Odisha officials skipped a meeting for transfer of land for development of Amarda Road airstrip in Mayurbhanj district, Revenue Minister Sudam Marndi on Wednesday said there was no need for this special event as the state government has already taken all necessary steps.

The tribal leader from Mayurbhanj was responding to the allegation made by Union Minister Bisheswar Tudu that the state government was not cooperating in the process of transfer of defence land to facilitate development of Amarda airstrip and commencement of flight services from there. Tudu targeted the state government after Mayurbhanj district collector skipped the meeting held on Tuesday for transfer of land.

Writing on X, the Odisha Minister said that the state government had initiated steps for the development of Amarda airstrip in 2016. A letter was also written to the Defence Secretary in 2022 to instruct the DRDO to issue NOC in this regard.

Subsequently, permission was granted to the state government to undertake necessary work on 160.35 acres of defence land, he said, adding that the state government has also paid more than Rs 26 crore in August as compensation for the purpose.

Since the state government has already taken all the necessary steps for handover of land, it had informed that there was no need for organising a special meeting on Tuesday, Marndi said.

Stating that the state government has handed over many land free of cost for central government projects, he said no special programmes were held for transfer of these lands.

As the state government has completed all necessary processes for Amarda Road airstrip, there should not be any problem in handing over the land and there is no need to organise any special programme for this, Marndi said.