Two days after a human chain rally conducted by the Forum for Development in the city for establishment of a domestic and cargo airport at Brahmapur, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) as scheduled earlier started its first phase of postcard signature campaign in front of the Khallikote Autonomous College here on Tuesday for onward transmission to the State CM. Hundreds of students, teachers and public signed the postcard voluntarily justifying the demand for a domestic and cargo airport at Brahmapur soon. The campaign received tremendous response from the public, claimed convener of JAC Rajendra Panda.The JAC consisting of members from two socio-cultural organizations, namely, the Manav Adhikar Surakshya Manch and the Ganjam Zilla Vikash Manch organised the drive in which the Ganjam Zilla Vikash Manch president and convener of JAC Rajendra Kumar Panda and MASM convener lawyer Abani Kumar Gaya were present and led the campaign. Mention may be made here that, earlier the JAC in its meeting held on last Sunday threatened to go for “Brahmapur Bandh” if the Government does not consider its proposal for establishment of an airport in the city at the earliest.
The JAC had expressed its unhappiness over the lackadaisical attitude of both the Union and State Governments towards the long standing and genuine demand of the people of Ganjam district in general and silk city in particular, despite agitations and protests by the public over the years. As per the CDP approved by the BDA, an 8sq km land has reportedly been identified and kept reserved at Sithalapalli under Lakshmipur Mouza on the outskirts of Brahmapur which can be used for establishment of a domestic airport, sources said. Still the State Government has sat over the proposal and yet to send its recommendations to the Union Government in public interest, the JAC alleged. The JAC had also in its earlier meeting expressed its strong resentment over silence of the elected representatives of the district on the matter.
The JAC is going to hold similar such postcard signature campaign in different strategic and crowded places of the city in phases in favour of their demand, its leaders told. The members of JAC are going to conduct their second phase of postcard signature campaign in front of MKCG Medical College Ground Square on January 21 and thereafter at City’s most crowded Girija Square on January 24.
