Umroi Airport Expansion: A Balancing Progress
Explore the delicate balance between development and environmental preservation in Shillong, as new plans for Umroi Airport expansion aim to protect the region’s hills and natural beauty. Is it possible to achieve progress without sacrificing nature?
As a child, the journey from Guwahati to Shillong was nothing short of magical. The moment we crossed Jorabat, a cool breeze would greet us, as if the very hills were rolling out a welcome mat. But, as with so many cherished memories, those days seem long gone. Now, you don’t dare switch off the car’s air conditioning until you’re well past Barapani, the breeze doesn’t feel as crisp as it once did. Courtesy of so-called development, the lush greenery that once defined the drive has gradually given way to concrete, dust, and construction machinery.
The story is much the same when travelling further afield, to the likes of Cherrapunji or Mawlynnong. The government seems hell-bent on constructing four-lane highways to these once-pristine areas. And at what cost? Simple: the outright destruction of the environment. Every time I drive past yet another scar on the landscape, I can’t help but wonder what exactly we are trading for these ‘improvements.’ Are we so desperate to make everything accessible that we’re willing to sacrifice the very essence of these places—the hills, the forests, the serenity?
It was this very thought that crossed my mind when I read about the proposed expansion of Umroi Airport in the Shillong Times. I dreaded the idea of more hills being flattened, more forests cleared, and more of the natural world being pushed aside in the name of progress. But then, this morning, I came across a rather promising report in the Shillong Times that gave me pause for thought.
It turns out that the state’s Transport Department presented a detailed study to the Cabinet, exploring the expansion of Umroi Airport. But here’s the twist—this new study suggests that it could be done without cutting down the hills! The earlier proposal, which would have required chopping through vast swathes of the landscape and cost an eye-watering Rs 8,000 crore, has been tossed out in favour of a more considerate approach. The Chief Minister, Conrad K Sangma, revealed that a comprehensive radar study covering 20 square kilometres around the airport identified viable options for extending the runway without resorting to bulldozing the hills.
Now, instead of flattening nature, the plan focuses on making use of the existing airport premises to allow for larger aircraft like the Airbus A320 and Boeing 737 to land. This means airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet could begin operating from Umroi, without the catastrophic environmental impact that was previously suggested.
Of course, nothing is set in stone just yet. The government still needs clearances, and the final say rests with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). But the report is a positive first step, and there is real hope that this expansion can go ahead without decimating the surrounding natural beauty.
The new plan does involve some land acquisition and construction, but it avoids the major terrain destruction that had so many of us worried. As the Chief Minister rightly pointed out, “We were earlier told we had to clear bigger mountains for bigger aircraft, but that’s not going to happen.” Instead, the focus has shifted to extending the runway and removing a few hurdles, all while keeping costs significantly lower than expected.
It’s a refreshing change to see development being approached with a more mindful attitude towards the environment. One can only hope that this is the beginning of a broader shift in thinking—one where progress doesn’t always have to come at the expense of the very nature we cherish.
This isn’t just about an airport. It’s about the legacy we leave behind. Do we really want to trade our hills, forests, and cool breezes for tarmacked roads and concrete jungles? Or can we, as this project hints, find a way to have both? Only time will tell, but for now, the future looks a little less bleak.
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