District Congress Committee (DCC) president P. Mohanraj has called upon the people to work towards materialising the proposed airport project at Aranmula.
In a statement issued here on Sunday, Mr. Mohanraj said the people of Pathanamthitta should extend all support to their elected representatives in realising the airport project which could bring about immense development to the region.
The proposed airport project also envisaged road development and the improvement of the railway stations at Chengannur and Thiruvalla. The airport project would be of help to the thousands of non-resident Keralites and to Sabarimala pilgrims, the statement said. It would create employment opportunities. The DCC had extended complete support to the project. It had asked the company to take steps to clear the apprehensions aired by a section of people through discussions, he said.
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In another statement issued here, United Democratic Front (UDF) district chairman Victor T. Thomas said the proposed airport was a key project among those declared by the UDF. The project would ensure all-round development of the region and it should be implemented in a time-bound manner, he added.
Voice of dissent
In a separate statement issued four days ago, All-India Congress Committee (AICC) member Peelipose Thomas criticised the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government notifying 500 acres of land spread across three villages in the region as industrial area and the setting up of the Aranmula Greenfield Airport Single Window Clearance Board on March 1.
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Mr. Thomas, who is also the UDF district convener, said the Industries Department's move was aimed at helping the private company to ‘bypass' the ‘hurdles' posed by the Kerala Land Reforms Act and the Kerala Wetland and Paddy Field Conservation Act.