BJP MP meets Scindia over clearance for Dhalbhumgarh

JAMSHEDPUR: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Jamshedpur, Bidyut Baran Mahato, has approached the Union minister of civil aviation, Jyotiraditya Scindia, to initiate talks with the Jharkhand government to obtain environment and forest clearance for the Dhalbhumgarh airport project, stalled since 2019, people close to the matter said on Saturday.

“I met aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Delhi on Friday and requested him to take up the pending forest and environment clearance for the Dhalbhumgarh airport project sanctioned by the Union government. The foundation stone was laid by the then CM Raghubar Das and minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha in 2019. I have also submitted a memorandum to Scindia-ji detailing the sequence of events,” Mahato told HT on Saturday.

Mahato, in his memorandum, reiterated the points raised in his speech in the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

“The Environment Assessment Committee (EAC) stalled the project by referring to the proposed site for the airport as an ‘elephant corridor.’ But neither I nor the local people have seen an elephant near the proposed site,” Mahato told the Lok Sabha.

“I have requested Scindia-ji to take up the matter with the Jharkhand government to expedite the process for obtaining environment and forest clearance for the Dhalbhumgarh airport project,” Mahato added.

The BJP leader said the proposed airport would be a boon for the Kolhan region, which is mineral-rich and industrial hub of Jharkhand.

In addition, the MP met the Union minister of shipping, transport, and highways, Nitin Gadkari, and requested him to undertake the construction of six important roads in East Singhbhum district under the Central Road Infrastructure Fund (CRIF).

He described the Jharkhand government’s lackadaisical approach in taking up the issue with the forest department to get NOC as “unfortunate”.

Mahato also addressed the issue of ‘arbitrary’ transfers of 179 Food Corporation of India (FCI) employees from Jamshedpur to Jasidih and Dhanbad with Union minister Ashwini Choubey.

He met the minister on Saturday and informed him that even workers on the verge of retirement were transferred.

I met aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in Delhi on Friday and requested him to take up the pending forest and environment clearance for the Dhalbhumgarh airport project. BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO,