The district-level inauguration of ‘Utsav,' a cultural event organised by the Tourism Department, was disrupted after a group of people took out a march to the venue near the Aranmula Parthsarathy temple on Sunday.
The march was in protesters against the proposal to set up a greenfield airport at Aranmula.
As many as 700 people, including women and children, reached the venue by 7 p.m. and shouted slogans against the government notifying 500 acres of land at Aranmula, Mallappuzhasserry, and Kidangannur as industrial area in connection with the development of the airport.
The protesters laid siege to the programme venue, seeking immediate steps to de-notify the 500 acres.
The government had set up the ‘Aranmula Greenfield Airport Single Window Clearance Board' in February to expedite the airport project, the protestors said. The airport company claimed that it owned land at Aranmula, they added.
K. Sivadasan Nair, MLA, who was scheduled to inaugurate the programme and other guests could not enter the stage.
The protesters set on fire flex banner at the venue.
R. Reghuvaran Nair, Deputy Superintendent of Police, was camping at Aranmula. Many eco groups had alleged large-scale conversion of paddy fields and natural streams in the area in the name of airport development.
