The Airport Advisory Committee has recommended to the district administration to take up the land acquisition for the expansion of the Tiruchi Airport in three phases so as to complete the exercise expeditiously, according to committee chairman P.Kumar, MP.
The district administration has recently formed a special team comprising the Airport Director, Revenue Divisional Officer, Joint Director of Agriculture, officials of Public Works Department, and other agencies concerned to expedite the land acquisition process, Mr.Kumar said after chairing a meeting of the committee here on Saturday.
The committee is expected to inspect the land and set in motion the acquisition process shortly.
The Airports Authority of India has sought about 510 acres of land for the next phase of expansion of the airport, which includes expansion of the runway from 8,000 to 10,000 feet initially, and to 12,000 feet ultimately. Of the total land sought, about 186 acres were dry land, 116 acres wetland, 164 acres Defence land, and 40 acres poromboke.
“We have suggested that the district administration take up the land acquisition process in three phases – to acquire the lands on either side of the existing runway immediately. In the second phase, acquisition of wet and dry land could be taken up, and in the third phase the Defence land could be acquired,” Mr.Kumar said.
He also indicated that the proposal for transfer of the Defence land has already been taken up with the Ministry.
The committee has also suggested that compensation be given to farmers whose lands are to be acquired. Farmers of the region have raised strong objections to the acquisition of the agricultural land and for building the runway across the Uyyakondan canal.
