The proposal for developing a greenfield Sabarimala international airport in Kottayam district, with a budget of Rs 34.11 billion, has received a positive response from the Union Environment Ministry panel. They recommended the grant of Standard Terms of Reference (TOR) for airports. It was the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the ministry that made this recommendation during their meeting in New Delhi last month. According to official sources, this recommendation will allow the project proponent, Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC), to plan and design an Impact Assessment (EIA) for the airport. Additionally, it will provide a format and structure for the project. The proposed airport will occupy approximately 2,570 acres of land in Erumeli, Kottayam District, known as Cheruvally Estate. The EAC found this site to be the most suitable among the options considered and hence recommended it for the grant of Standard TOR for airports. Once operational, the project is expected to generate employment opportunities for 600 people. During their presentation to the EAC, the KSIDC and its consultant provided a detailed overview of the three alternative sites they had evaluated for the project. The airport primarily aims to serve the pilgrims of the renowned Lord Ayyappa temple in Sabarimala and boost tourism and the local economies of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki districts. The proponent informed the EAC that the chosen project site falls outside the Eco Sensitive Area (ESA) of the Western Ghats and presented a certificate from the Additional Chief Secretary (Home and Environment), Government of Kerala, to support this claim. Furthermore, the Ecologically Sensitive Zone of Periyar Tiger Reserve lies beyond the proposed airport project's 10 km radius. Also read: UP explores RapidX Corridor for Delhi-Noida Airport connectivityNIAL reports completion of 47% of work on Noida airport