KOCHI: The state government on Tuesday submitted before the Kerala High Court there was not even a remote chance to set up a greenfield airport at Aranmula.
N Sukumaran, undersecretary to the Industries Department, in a statement said it would be impossible to acquire the land identified for the project as more than 700 families are living there.
“So far, no notification has been issued under the Land Acquisition Act to acquire land for the project. KGS Aranmula International Airport Ltd, promoters of the project, has not purchased sufficient land for the airport project. Only 300 acres of land was purchased, which is being proceeded under the Kerala Land Reforms Act,” said the statement.
The government made it clear no permission was granted to the company to exempt the land from the purview of the Kerala Land Reforms Act.
The Taluk Land Board (TLB) had taken action against land-holders K J Abraham and others under the Kerala Land Reforms Act, after they were found to be holding excess land. The ceiling proceedings are pending before the Kozhencherry TLB.