District Congress Committee (DCC) general secretary K. Jayavarma has called upon Chief Minister Oommen Chandy to initiate necessary steps to take over the Laha Estate, at present in the possession of Harrisons Malayalam Limited, and utilise it for the development of the district.
In a memorandum submitted to the Chief Minister and Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash here on Friday, Mr. Jayavarma said the government should set up an international airport at Laha, utilising the vast area of the estate.
He said Special Officer appointed by the government Rajamanikyam had studied various aspects of the Laha estate as part of his inquiry into various land holdings with HML.
According to him, the government should take immediate steps to take over the estate, in the backdrop of its recent decision to takeover 5,170 ha of land sold by HML. Such a move would be of great help in launching a series of development projects in Ranni Assembly segment, Mr. Jayavarma said.
Mr. Jayavarma said setting up an airport at Laha would be beneficial to the people of the districts of Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam, and Kollam districts, besides to the scores Sabarimala pilgrims coming from outside Kerala.
He said an airport at Laha would pave the way for eco-tourism promotion in Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts in a big way.
