Felix clarified that the state government has no role to play in the shifting the Greenfield airport from Karsingsa to Hollongi nor a say in its construction.
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Reffering to Rajkhowa's contention that the shifting of the proposed airport from Karsingsa to Hollongi was motivated by ulterior political motives at the behest of the BJP, Felix said that since March 2006, the state government has been in favour of the airport coming up at Karsingsa/Banderdewa, which is close to Itanagar.
He said that it was the Public Investment Board (PIB) that raised objections to the high costs of earth work and suggested exploring an alternate site. It even suggested using the Lilabari Airport instead of constructing one in Arunachal Pradesh.
He further stated that the defence ministry had issued a no objection certificate on June 12, 2007 with several preconditions for the construction of the airport at Karsingsa/Banderdewa.
The technical committee and departments later found that it would be difficult to abide by the preconditions if the airport was set up at Karsingsa.
He said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had recommended Hollongi as the new site, but Arunachal Pradesh Government had told the union civil aviation ministry on July 20, July 28 and December 14, 2011 that it had decided to have the airport at Karsingsa.
Felix said that state government had cited the following reasons in favour having the airport at Karsingsa/Banderdewa:
.Land requisition in Hollongi would be a cumbersome process as half of the area belonged to private individuals
.Resettlement of about 400 Chakma-Hajong refugees living in Hollongi area would be difficult, as it falls in the disputed Assam-Arunachal inter-state boundary.
.The principal secretary cited a technical committee report which was against the Banderdewa site.
. Hilly Banderdewa was 25 kilometers from Itanagar, while a plain Hollongi was 20 kilometers from Itanagar
. The Banderdewa site needed an approach road from NH 52A, while Hollongi had an existing road that just needed expansion.
The Hollongi airport would take two years to build, while the Banderdewa airport would take three to four years.
Felix said that the state government may have desired the airport at Karsingsa/Banderdewa, but it was the decision of the Principal Secretary to zero in on Hollongi on grounds of feasibility and had directed the Papum Pare deputy commissioner on December 24, 2012 to acquire land expeditiously for the resettlement of affected families.
