Aranmula airport project turns toxic for its proponents

Kochi: The Aranmula airport project has landed both the previous LDF and present UDF governments in the State in an unenviable situation.
The State industries department reportedly denotified an extent of 2,000 acres, out of an area of 2,500 acres which was notified earlier as an Industrial area in Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district for constructing a private airport following strong opposition from the local public.
Subsequently, the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, was quoted as saying that “the airport would not require more than 500 acres.” But experts claim that construction of a greenfield airport will require not less than 1,200 acres of land.
Environmental activists, meanwhile, alleged that the Cabinet decision taken on February 8 this year giving the nod for regularisation of converted paddy fields and wetlands prior to January 1, 2005 after imposing a heavy fine of up to 15 per cent of the fair value of land in various categories, was aimed at legalising the already converted flood plains, Aramula punja, parts of a tributary of the Pampa river and some ‘puramboke’ land.
16/07/12 GK Nair/Business Line

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Categories: airports Jul 2012, New Jul 2012