Sabarimala Greenfield Airport moves closer with land acquisition approval

The state government issued an order sanctioning the acquisition of 2,570 acres of land in Kottayam for the ambitious Sabarimala Greenfield Airport, marking a significant stride towards realising the project. The chosen site for the airport's development is located in Erumeli South and Manimala villages. State Revenue Minister K Rajan announced that the decision to proceed with the land acquisition was based on the recommendations of an expert committee that scrutinised the social impact study report. Minister Rajan emphasised that the selection of the specific land was a result of considering factors such as public demand, the minimum land requirement for the project, and the absence of other suitable land options. The state government has received official confirmation from the Union Ministry of Forests, Environment, and Climate Change, affirming that the identified land is suitable for the airport, as stated in his official statement. Consequently, Rajan mentioned that the government is actively initiating the steps necessary to acquire the designated land for the project. In adherence to the Land Acquisition and Rehabilitation Act of 2013, the preliminary notification under section 11(1) must be issued within one year from the date of the expert committee's recommendations on the social impact assessment report. The expert committee submitted its recommendations on August 22, 2023, indicating that the preliminary notification for land acquisition can be expected in August 2024. To facilitate this, a thorough check and confirmation of the land records of the landowners are required. Subsequently, a land survey will commence, followed by the issuance of the final notification, Rajan explained. He assured that all necessary steps for the Sabarimala airport project would be completed with speed and precision. Rajan attributed the realisation of this airport to the determination of the Left Democratic Front.