The National Green Tribunal (NGT), Southern Bench, on Tuesday stalled activities related to the construction of a Greenfield airport near Sabarimala until further orders.
The NGT stayed a Kerala government notification converting 500 acres of wetland into industrial land in Pathanamthitta district and also restrained other connected activities of KGS Aranmula International Airport Ltd. It also restrained the private company from proceeding with further construction.
The Bench comprising judicial member Justice M. Chockalingam and expert member Prof.R. Nagendran admitted an application by Aranmula Heritage Village Protection Action Council challenging a Kerala government order granting in-principle sanction in 2010 for the airport.
In the application , the Council said that the government’s action allowing the private airport violated provisions of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy and Wetland Act, 2008 and other laws.”
