A writ petition challenging the sanction given by the State government for a greenfield airport at Aranmula was filed before the Kerala High Court on Friday.
The petition was filed by poet Sugathakumari and two others.
According to the petitioners, the proposed airport did not have sufficient environment clearance. It was proposed to be constructed after filling paddy fields. This was against the provisions of the Kerala Conservation of Paddy Land and Wetland Act and Rules. The clearance for the airport had been granted under the provisions of the Kerala Industrial Single Window Clearance Board and Industrial Township Areas Development Act. They said the Act did not empower the State government to notify a particular area as industrial area and accord clearance for the project in the area. It was applicable only to projects coming up in already declared industrial areas. They contended that the project would damage the ecosystem of the area. They pointed out that there was no need for an airport at Aranmula as three airports — the Thruvananthapuram, Cochin, and Navy airports — were located within 150 km radius of Aranmula.
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