Deputy Commissioner N Jayaram had called for a meeting of all the stake holders involved in the Sambra airport runway expansion who had lost their land.
The students of KLE Engineering College of Hubli presented their report on `the effects of the Airport expansion, in the radius of 10 km around it’, on the occasion. Later Jayaram asked the villagers whether they had any objections or questions in connection to the topic. But the villagers stood silent, looking at him. Jayaram said that the `silence’ of the villagers would be considered as their `No Objection’.
Villagers of Sambra, Mutaga, Balekundri, Honiyal, Pant Balekundri, Shindoli and Mavinkatti attended the meeting in large numbers.
The villagers were really unaware of what to speak and what not, however they kept on their demand that they must get road access to cross over to their fields even after the runway is built.
The villagers also demanded jobs to those farmers, who have lost their land, acquired for the expansion work. Jayaram assured to speak about their demands to the concerned and to do all the needful.
Airport authorities gave a detailed explanation about the expansion of the Airport to be done in stages including the developmental work of rest house, runway etc.