Kerala greenlights land acquisition for new airport

The Kerala government has officially sanctioned the acquisition of 2,570 acres of land in the Kottayam district to progress the development of the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport project. This upcoming airport will be situated in Erumeli South and Manimala villages.

State Revenue Minister K Rajan has affirmed that the decision to initiate the land acquisition process aligns with the recommendations provided by an expert committee, which thoroughly assessed the social impact study report. The choice of the designated land for the project stems from a careful consideration of factors such as public demand, the minimum land requirement, and the absence of viable alternative land options.

The Union Ministry of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has officially communicated that the identified land meets the necessary criteria for the airport. Consequently, the state government is actively moving forward with the acquisition process for this specific land parcel.

In accordance with the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the preliminary notification under section 11(1) is mandated to be issued within one year from the date of the expert committee's recommendations on the social impact assessment report. The expert committee delivered its recommendations on August 22, 2023.

Anticipated in August 2024, the issuance of the preliminary notification for land acquisition will require a meticulous verification and confirmation of the land records belonging to the respective landowners. Following the verification process, a comprehensive land survey will be initiated, paving the way for the subsequent issuance of the final notification.

News by Rahul Yelligetti