Rudrapur, Sept. 6 -- The central government has sanctioned the expansion of existing Pantnagar airport and state departments have marked colonies housing over 800 families in the periphery of the proposed international airport as encroachments. A delegation of the residents of these colonies met the district magistrate after departments concerned marked their houses red. The delegation demanded not to displace them or to ensure their rehabilitation. According to officials, the central government is upgrading Pantnagar airport as an international airport. The Airport Authorities of India (AAI) has acquired 524-acre land from the state government. Several buildings, other structures, two colonies Sanjay Nagar and Masjid colonies are falling in the periphery of the proposed airport. These buildings are of Pant university and other government departments, which are to be razed down. The state government has floated tenders for their demolition. As to Sanjay Nagar and Masjid colonies, officials say they are too close to the airport. At present, Pantnagar airport has a 1372-metre runway and provides facility to land and take off like ATR-72 aircraft. After expansion and upgradation to an international airport, large aircrafts can operate from Pantnagar airport, for which, a 3000-metre long runway has to be laid down. Sanjay Nagar and Masjid colonies are creating hurdles for the new runway and are to be demolished for its construction. Fear of demolition and displacement is hovering on these families. "It is an ambitious project of the government. Encroachments in the periphery of the proposed airport are to be removed. As to the rehabilitation of residents of these colonies, we will inform the government and seek instructions on what is to be done."...