Public Hearing Held for Greenfield Airport in Assam’s Cachar

A public hearing was conducted on Monday to facilitate the process of obtaining environmental clearance for the much-debated Doloo Greenfield Airport project in Assam’s Cachar district. Organised by the Assam State Pollution Control Board, the hearing took place at Haticherra near the Doloo tea estate in Cachar.

The session witnessed participation from various tea workers' unions, along with leaders representing over a hundred organisations and local clubs. To ensure smooth proceedings and prevent any disruptions, elaborate security arrangements were put in place around the hearing venue. Senior police officials, including DIG (Southern Assam) Kangkan Jyoti Saikia and Cachar Superintendent of Police Numal Mahatta, oversaw the security deployment.

The public hearing was attended by over 800 people. Cachar District Commissioner (DC) Mridul Yadav, Member Secretary of the State Pollution Control Board Gokul Bhuyan, and Aravind Das from the Silchar Pollution Control Board presided over the session and collected public feedback on the proposed airport project.

Speaking to the media, DC Mridul Yadav informed that the administration received a total of 151 memorandums, out of which nearly 90 percent supported the establishment of the Doloo Greenfield Airport. Of the 151 memorandums, 32 individuals personally presented their opinions during the hearing. Among them, 25 voiced support for the airport, three opposed the project, and another three emphasised the need for proper rehabilitation of displaced tea workers.

Yadav also stated that video recordings and documentation of the entire hearing will be submitted to the government as part of the process for environmental clearance.

Meanwhile, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma took to 'X' and said, "The public hearing for the Greenfield Dolu Airport project in Cachar district concluded peacefully today- a significant milestone in our journey to transform Barak Valley into a hub of connectivity and development. We are now one step closer to realising our grand vision for the region. Gratitude to all stakeholders for their cooperation and support."

The Assam government has proposed the construction of a new airport in Silchar, covering 2,500 bighas (approximately 826.45 acres), as the existing facility at Kumbhirgram — a defence airport — cannot be expanded to meet the growing air traffic demands. Last year, the Cachar district administration had evicted land at the Doloo Tea Estate for the construction of a Greenfield airport at the land.

Quashing earlier claims of an imaginary airport at Doloo in the Cachar district of Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday announced that the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation formally recommended the site clearance for the proposed greenfield airport.

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