Even as a strong protest is brewing among social, political and environment groups against the proposed private airport project at Aranmula, the government has intimated the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests that the KGS Group, promoters of the airfield, has a right to claim exemption under Kerala Land Reforms Act. In the letter, Pradeep Kumar, Principal Secretary, Dept of Environment, has said the proponent has a right to claim exemption under Kerala Land Reforms Act on the basis of a Government Order dated Sept 2010, issued while granting ‘in-principle nod’ for the green field project. But, this is against the Cabinet’s decision that land will be acquired only under the existing rules. The Kozhencherry Taluk Land Board had a few months ago declared 232 acres of land at Aranmula which form part of the proposed airport site as excess land.