NGO urges PM to relocate greenfield airport from Doloo to Kharil
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Silchar: Assam-based NGO Forum for Social Harmony has submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister, urging the relocation of the proposed greenfield airport from the Doloo tea estate in Cachar to the nearby abandoned Kharil tea estate.
The appeal, sent via Cachar DC, highlights environmental, social, and economic concerns regarding the current site.
The forum's convenor, Arindam Deb, expressed gratitude to the Centre for selecting south Assam for airport development but alleged that the choice of Doloo tea estate was influenced by vested interests.
"The current location undermines the vision of inclusive development. The destruction of productive tea plantations and displacement of workers threatens the livelihood of thousands," Deb said.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) had initially identified three potential sites for the project, including Doloo and Kharil. Although Doloo was ultimately selected, the Forum points out that Kharil tea estate — already surveyed and deemed feasible — remains a more suitable alternative. As an abandoned and sparsely inhabited site, Kharil poses minimal social and ecological risks compared to Doloo, which remains a fully functional tea estate.
The NGO alleges that over 42 lakh tea bushes and thousands of shade trees were uprooted at Doloo under heavy police presence and the invocation of Section 163 of the BNSS, despite widespread public resistance. According to the forum, displaced workers are now jobless and struggling to provide for their families. A case challenging the forcible land acquisition is currently pending in the Supreme Court, which has stayed further action until a proper Environmental Clearance (EC) is obtained.
The forum also criticised the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report, calling it "misleading and deceptive." It claims the report falsely asserts public consent and resolution of worker issues, while failing to address the ecological impact on Doloo Lake and the nearby Barail Wildlife Sanctuary.
Noting that 2,486 workers have formally objected to the project, the forum urged the Prime Minister to relocate the airport to Kharil tea estate to protect the interests of workers, the tea industry, and the environment.
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