The airfield in Kayathar established in the British era during World War II, seems to be no man’s land.
It lies on Mangamma Salai on Ettayapuram-Tenkasi road at Pannirkulam.
The existing airstrip, which saw fighter planes during the World War , is now being used by some local populace to dry up agriculture produce.
The air strip remained non-functional for many years. But, the obsolete airstrip has also opened up a platform for learners to drive vehicles, Ponnuraj, a resident of Kayathar told The Hindu here on Monday.
Moreover, some locals said portions of the airfield had been encroached upon.
During the airport advisory committee meeting convened here in June, J. Jeyasingh Thiyagaraj Natterjee, Thoothukudi MP, and chairman of the committee, appealed to the authorities concerned to remove encroachments for reviving the British period air base.
Official sources said that it was in 2008 that a high-level Air Force team visited the district to explore the possibilities of setting up air force bases at Kayathar.
An aerial survey over 991 hectare was identified at Kayathar for the expansion of air strip into a full-fledged station.
However, Collector M. Ravikumar denied any encroachment at the airfield in Kayathar. Currently, airfield is lying on 50.69 acres. Referring to the land record, he said the acres of land at the airfield was owned by a private airliner in those days.
The Indian Air Force had sought 1,561 acres of land for expansion of the airfield. Of these acres of land demanded, 114 acres were identified as government poromboke land, he said.
