In May 2018, a team of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) conducted a pre-feasibility survey in the Mandi district to select a suitable site for a new international airport in Himachal Pradesh. In September, AAI gave clearance to a location in Balh valley for the project. According to a news report, the cost of acquisition was estimated at over Rs 2,000 crore for 3,500 bighas of land across eight villages, of which 3,040 bighas is private land while 460 bighas is government-owned.
However, the affected farmers and landowners immediately raised objections on the takeover of their lands. They collected under the banner of Balh Bachao Kisan Sangharsh Samiti (BBKSS) to request the state to acquire barren land nearby instead of their fertile lands. They have highlighted that agriculture is the dominant source of livelihood in the region.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister committed to pursuing the project as it would give a boost to tourism and development activities in the state.
According to the chairperson of BBKSS, 2,000 families would lose their agricultural land and be displaced in the process. He claims that many of them are already affected by the previous highway development project. On October 01, 2018, the affected-persons organised a protest outside the district headquarters in Mandi and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister through the Sub-Divisional Magistrate.
In a news report, the divisional president of BKSS highlighted that the loss of land would severely affect the multi-cropping and cash crop-based agricultural practices, groundwater availability, and the livelihood of the migrant workers in the region. The protestors have also claimed that the acquisition would violate provisions under LARR 2013.
In December 2018, the protestors staged a sit-in outside the SDM’s office. They submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister and the Chief Minister of the state. However, in October 2019, the project received in-principle approval from the AAI and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
The BBKSS has demanded that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) should first complete the process of providing compensation to the outsees of the Kiratpur-Nerchowk four-laning project at four times the market value of the land and implement the rehabilitation and resettlement policy and subsequently, attempt to acquire land for the Mandi airport. In November 2019, the organisation submitted another memorandum to the Chief Minister.
Since then the protests have continued. In August 2020, the residents of Balh valley formed human chains at several locations in protest.
According to Samiti's president, Joginder Walia, at least 75 per cent of the population in six out of eight villages consist of the households of Dalits, Other Backward Castes and Muslim communities. He stated that these households would be worst affected by the state-led displacement. Also deputy head of BBKSS, Paras Ram, has claimed that the circle rates decided would not compensate the farmers for their actual earnings from cultivation.
As per a news report, in November 2020, Samiti released a press statement condemning the state government’s attempts to expedite the project without addressing the affected people’s grievances and their socio-environmental implications. They also recommended an alternative location for the project, which is primarily government-owned. Later that month, a SSBKK delegation took out a rally and submitted their demands in the district headquarters. They also threatened to intensify protests and take direct action if the state government did not respond to the concerns.
In February 2021, Walia claimed that the state government continued to ignore the interests of the people affected. SKSS also held public meetings in the affected villages to discuss the adverse impact of the project on arable land, livelihood sustainability and the land’s proneness to flooding.
On March 01, 2021, farmers collected to march in protest to SDM’s office and submitted another memorandum for the Chief Minister demanding relocation of the airport. In April, the workers again protested on farms by holding banners.
The social impact report was submitted in February 2023, which noted the demand of the affected villagers that the airport be shifted to Jahu in Hamirpur. In April 2023, newspapers reported may be shifted by about 50 km to Hamirpur. As of February 2024, the demand had not been finalised.
Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Refusal to give up land for the project
Complaint against procedural violations
Demand for compensation
Opposition against environmental degradation
Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community
Region Classification
Rural
Type of Land
Common and Private
Forest and Non-Forest
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project stalled due to protests
Original Project Deadline
Whether the Project has been Delayed
Yes
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence, Agricultural land
Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict
Yes
Source/Reference
https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/mandi-may-lose-airport-project-to-hamirpur-496779
Total investment involved (in Crores):
₹
2000
Type of investment:
Investment Expected
Year of Estimation
2020
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Land Acquisition Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
No
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Controversial land acquisition by the government
Non-implementation/violation of LARR Act
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:
Airports Authority of India
PSUs Involved in the Conflict:
Airports Authority of India
Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?
No
Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached
Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:
Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?
N/A
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
Balh Bachao Kisan Sangharsh Samiti
What was the action taken by the police?
How many people did the police detain or arrest?
What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?
Did the person face any violence while in police custody?
If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?
If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?
Legislation under which the accused was charged
Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?
In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?
Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?
Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?
Meenakshi is an independent researcher currently based in Himachal Pradesh. She has a Master's in Environmental Management from the Forest Research Institute. She has formerly worked with the Centre for Policy Research, Namati and Kalpavriksh on issues of environmental compliance and regulation. Her interest in the politics of regulatory action gave her the opportunity to study institutions such as the Coastal Zone Management Authorities and the ESA Monitoring Committees. She has also researched on natural resource governance and large-scale land-use change in Indonesia and Myanmar and is experienced in extensive research, writing and advocacy on the Coastal Regulation Zone law of India. Besides researching and reporting from the hills, she enjoys farming, cooking her harvest, tending to her plants and pets, reading in the sun and counting the number of hues at sunset.
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