In-principle nod in Pranab’s speech
President Pranab Mukherjee, while addressing the joint sitting of Parliament on Thursday, said “the Centre has given in-principle clearance to set up greenfield airports at Aranmula in Kerala, Navi Mumbai, Mopa and Kannur.”
KGS Group, a Chennai-based company, had earlier announced its plan to set up the KGS Aranmula International Airport at an estimated cost of Rs.2,000 crore by 2012. The company had purchased 240 acres of land from a private company, Aranmula Aviation Ltd, to set up the airport.
KGS managing director Giji George said the runway length of the proposed airport would be 3100 X 45 metres and the terminal building would be designed to handle 1,000 passengers at a time. The proposed airport is expected to cater to the travel needs of Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Alappuzha districts, which have been identified as the “influential zone”, he said.
Mr. George said the company had obtained the approval for setting up the airport in Aranmula from the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Home Affairs and the Government of Kerala. A statement from the company said the Expert Appraisal Committee of the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) had given approval for the project and the company was awaiting clearance from the MoEF.
KGS Group is planning to develop an aeropolis attached to the airport along with a special economic zone, hospital, shopping mall, hotels and an international school.
Keywords: Pranab Mukherjee, Aranmula Airport, green airports, KGS Group
The statement by the president is misleading and intended to help KGS
to quote the following "We have obtained all clearances from the Govt
of India and the President of India has announced the project in the
Parliament of India". This statement will be misquoted by KGS in their
all further correspondence to various departments for the pending
clearances, quoting the above false stereotyped words especially to
Ministry of Environment and Forests and Ministry of Civil Aviation for
the final clearance. Their statement will only mislead the bureaucrats
who will clear the files and will never put remarks or put queries
when they see the statement in the letter of request by KGS Group that
"We have obtained all clearances from the Govt of India and the
President of India has announced the project in the Parliament of
India". This move by the KGS Group is absolute scandal and intended to
misleading the Govt of India, violating the standard kerala land
rules.
It is really anti-environment and anti-people that it destroys wetlands and paddy lands, natural streams and affects the ecology of the River Pampa. It displacement of people for this project is yet to be analyzed as still the details of the project report, etc. are not available in the public domain unlike that of Kannur, Mopa or Navi-Mumbai. Transparency is a precondition for such mega projects. The EIA is a not related to the flora, fauna, or the historical sites in Aranmula and appears to be a tabletop research material. A rethinking is essential for this disastrous private project.
very encouraging news
Alongside will the government also consider improving the health,
educational and employment opportunities for the people. Will the govt.
seriously think of establishing some manufacturing centres. Should
Keralites be ever ordained to be labourers and clerks for the gulf
region.
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