Aranmula airport gets environment clearance

Ministry rejected all objections raised by several organisations, people living in the vicinity of the proposed airport

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has cleared the proposed Aranmula international airport in Pathanamthitta district of Kerala. The ministry released the order giving full environmental clearance to the project, rejecting all the objections raised by several organisations and the people living in the vicinity of the proposed airport.

KGS Aranmula International Airport Limited proposes to set up the airport in 700 hectares with an investment of Rs 2,000 crore. It is in the vicinity of the famous Aranmula Parthasarathy temple. Reliance ADAG group has a 15 per cent stake in the company.

Political parties, BJP and CPI (M), are strongly opposing the airport as the Aranmula area has been included in the UN World Heritage List. A major portion of the land required for the airport lies in the area’s paddy fields. Around 60 acres of paddy fields have already been acquired. The Hindu Aikya Vedi is also against the construction of the airport as it would pose a threat to the temple.

A study by Kitco (formerly Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation Limited) pointed out that the height of the flag post of the temple should be lowered and the main entrance of the temple should be shifted as these would be hurdles to take off and landing of the planes. The Aranmula Heritage Protection Committee stated they would file a suite against the government’s order before the Supreme Court.

Senior Congress leader V M Sudheeran said the government decision was unfortunate. BJP state president V Muraleedharan said his party would not allow the construction of the airport.

In September, an Environment Ministry panel had recommended clearance for developing the international private airport.

The expert appraisal committee (EAC) for building construction, coastal regulation zone, infrastructure development and miscellaneous projects recommended the proposal for clearance with conditions.

An estimated 500 acres of paddy field has to be converted for the proposed airport, claimed to be the first private international greenfield airport in India.

While KGS Aranmula International Airport Ltd has informed the ministry that the project would be developed at a cost of Rs 81.18 crore in Phase-I and Rs 125.44 crore for Phase-II, its website said the plan was for an airport covering about 700 acres of land, to be built at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore.

The KGS Group is promoted by K Kumaran, Gigi George (managing director) and PV Sanmugam. It proposed to commence airport operations by December 2015.