HC directs Kerala CS to file report on airport project

The Kerala High court today directed the state Chief Secretary to file a report by February 3 on issues related to the proposed Rs 2,000 crore Aranmulla airport project.
A Division Bench, comprising Justice T R Ramachandran Nair and Justice B Kemal Pasha, issued the direction in this regard and also directed the promoters of the project -- the KGS Group, to give copies of all documents to the Advocate Commissioner appointed by the court.
The Kerala Pollution Control Board was also directed by the court to inform whether they had conducted any study on the environmental problems in connection with the airport.

The state government informed the court that all issues could be considered at the time of granting NOC to the airport project.
The court suo motu took up case on the basis of report of 'Devasom' ombudsman that proposed project may cause hindrance to the Parthasarthy temple and its gold mast.
The Advocate Commissioner had earlier informed the court that airport would pose a 'perennial threat' to the temple.
"The project may be a pernicious and a perennial threat to the sublime sacredness and serenes of the temple and its continued existence for the benefit of generations to come," the commissioner had stated in his report to the court.

However, the KGS Group had contended that the Flagmast, Gopuram or any other structure of the temple need not be touched, modified or displaced for the construction of the airport.