Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy yesterday said the government would go ahead with the proposed Aranmula International Airport, in which it holds a 10% stake, despite opposition.
He also said the notice for a public hearing for the final clearance to the Kannur International Airport, in which expatriates were invited to invest, would be issued on Saturday and the project would get rolling within a month.
“Don’t think that the protesters (against Aranmula airport) represent the local population who are aware of the benefits that such a big infrastructure project to the region’s economic landscape,” Chandy said. “There were similar protests against the Cochin airport too.”
The greenfield airport is coming up in what critics say ‘illegally reclaimed, ecologically fragile” land in Pathanamthitta district of the state.
Recently, environment activists and politicians, including Peelipose Thomas, a senior leader of the ruling Congress Party in the district, joined hands against the Rs20bn project saying it would lead to large-scale destruction of environment and heritage.
15/05/13 Gulf Times
