The Chennai-based KGS Group of companies has claimed that it has obtained all necessary clearances for setting up a greenfield international airport at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district.
In a statement issued here on Monday, the KGS Group managing director, Gigi George, said the Airport Authority of India has recommended feasibility for setting up of the proposed `greenfield international airport at Aranmula way back on October 15, 2009. The State Cabinet too had given approval to the project on September 8, 2010.
Notification
According to Mr George, Industries Department of the Kerala Government has notified 500 acres of land in Aranmula, Kidangannoor and Mallappuzhasseri villages for the proposed `greenfield airport project after publishing the land record details at the respective village offices. The department has also constituted the `Greenfield Airport, Aranmula Single Window Clearance Board’ on February 24 in this connection, he said.
Defence clearance
He said the Ministry of Defence has issued a `No Objection Certificate’ for setting up the proposed airport project on August 24.
The United Democratic Front Government has issued a recommendation letter to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation on September 26, supporting the airport project. The Ministry of Civil Aviation has granted a `site clearance certificate’ for the proposed ‘KGS Greenfield International Airport’ at Aranmula on October 28.
Mr George said a total of 350 acres of land have been registered in the name of KGS Aranmula International Airport Ltd in December, 2010 and the District Collector, P.Venugopal, has recently directed the Revenue official concerned to speed up its process of mutation in a time-bound manner.
Notified industrial area
Mr George has further clarified that there was no question of the Government acquiring land for the project. Instead, the company would negotiate with the land owners for purchase of land at the prevailing market price, he said. He said there would not be any eviction or compulsory acquisition or displacement of houses, commercial areas or places of worship.
According to Mr George, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Idukki and Alappuzha districts together accounts for the arrival of nearly 21 per cent of foreign tourists and 14 per cent domestic tourists to Kerala.
Mr George said the proposed Rs 2000-crore international airport project would be set up in 500 acres of land in Aranmula in a time frame of 18 months.
