Row Erupts Over Land Acquisition for Proposed Aero City near Kangra Airport

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Dharamshala, May 5

A dispute has emerged over the proposed Aero City project near Kangra Airport, with villagers from affected areas opposing the compensation being offered for land acquisition.

Residents of Mahal Bhadrot, falling under Shahpur tehsil in Kangra district, met Deputy Commissioner Hemraj Bairwa on Tuesday, demanding compensation on par with that provided during earlier airport land acquisition. According to villagers, landowners affected by the airport project had received around ₹21 lakh per kanal, whereas the current offer for Aero City stands at only ₹3–4 lakh per kanal.

Representatives of the villagers, including Veer Singh, Desraj, and Narendra Kumar, said the proposed compensation does not reflect the true value of their fertile agricultural land, which serves as the primary source of livelihood for many families in the area.

They further highlighted that the circle rates in nearby Mahal Jugehar are significantly higher and urged the administration to consider them when determining compensation. The villagers maintained that they would be willing to part with their land only if compensation was revised accordingly.

Warning of agitation, the residents said they would be compelled to take to the streets if their demands are not met. “We will oppose the land acquisition if fair compensation is not provided,” they said.

The state government has initiated the land acquisition process for the Aero City project, proposed to come up near Kangra Airport, but resistance from local communities may delay its progress.