KOCHI: Right from conception, the Aranmula Airport Project, touted as “one for Sabarimala pilgrims”, had the scent of a scandal. By cancelling all the clearances granted for the project as promised in the CPM-led alliance's election manifesto, the ruling LDF was rectifying an action by its own erstwhile government
led by V S Achuthanandan.
It may be recalled that the project kicked off with an in-principle clearance granted on September 2, 2010.
The acquisition of airport land was cleared on the condition that the promoter, Chennai-based KGS Group, should find the land.
Not only that, the then LDF Government had included the proposed Aranmula greenfield airport, located barely 75km from the Hill Shrine, in the action plan as part of its fourth anniversary celebrations.
The Government Order (MS) no. 248/10 GA, dated July 17, 2010, said, “The greenfield airport at Aranmula would be launched as the second project of the Industries Department after the Kumarakom Tourist Resort Village,” as both the projects were proposed by the department as part of the anniversary.
The then Additional Chief Secretary T Balakrishnan had issued an order affirming that KGS owned 350 acre of land in the area. On November 12, 2010, Chief Minister Achuthanandan directed the Pathanamthitta District Collector to take immediate steps to transfer the land to KGS, responding to a request letter from K C Rajagopalan, the then Aranmula MLA belonging to the CPM.
“We have been informed that since the owner has developed the land in violation of certain rules it cannot be transferred unless a direction is issued by the government,’’ the MLA stated in a letter.
On February 24, 2011, just four days before the general elections were announced, the Industries Department issued a notification in haste, notifying 500 acre in Aranmula, Mallapuzhassery and Kidangannoor villages as industrial land.
It also formed a ‘Greenfield Airport Aranmula Single Window Clearance Board’, which was cancelled by the incumbent Pinarayi Vijayan Government on Wednesday.
“The decision by the LDF Government is a warning to those dark forces which tried to eliminate the food, water and culture of a society. This is a historic moment,” said P Prasad, CPI state executive member, who was the general convener of the Anti-Airport Action Council headed by poet and activist Sugatha Kumari.