The Himachal Pradesh government has cleared financial assistance of Rs 16.76 crore for 113 families running shops and other businesses on government land affected by the expansion of Gaggal Airport in Kangra district.
Although these families did not own the land, the state government has decided to provide them financial support. Compensation is already being given to landowners whose properties are being acquired for the airport expansion project.
The government said the assistance has been extended on humanitarian grounds to people who were operating businesses near the airport and will be impacted by the project.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Deputy Chief Whip Kewal Singh Pathania said this could be the first such case in the country where people running businesses on government land are being given financial aid as part of a land acquisition-related project.
He said the state government is committed to helping poor and middle-class families. According to him, the assistance will help affected traders restart their businesses and support their livelihoods.
Pathania said several delegations had met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during his visits to Kangra and requested financial help for the traders likely to be affected by the airport expansion.
He said the approval of the relief package shows the chief minister's concern for economically weaker sections and his commitment to their welfare.
Pathania also said the chief minister has a vision to develop Kangra as the tourism capital of Himachal Pradesh. Several tourism-related projects have already been approved to attract more visitors to the district.
He added that the expansion of Gaggal Airport is expected to increase tourist arrivals, especially high-end travellers. The project is also likely to create new jobs and self-employment opportunities for local people while giving a boost to the region's economy.
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