The proposed Aranmula airport project in Pathanamthitta district suffered yet another setback with the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal ordering the promoters of the airport to maintain status quo at the site. The bench was hearing a petition filed by K P Sreeranganathan, a 71-year-old environmental activist hailing from Aranmula, who has pleaded for setting aside the environmental clearance accorded to the project.
Sreeranganathan had filed the petition on December 17. In a separate petition, Kummanam Rajasekharan, representing Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council, a forum that is campaigning against the project, had also pleaded that the project be stalled. Both the petitioners have pointed out that the project has been proposed on wetland and hence would cause irreparable ecological damage. Rajasekharan’s petition, however,has not yet been taken up by the tribunal.
Sreeranganathan’s case has been posted to January 22 for further hearing. The petitioner had moved the tribunal in line with the conditions laid down by the Union ministry of environment and forests while giving clearance to the Rs.2,000-crore airport project on November 18. The ministry had said in the order that the promoter company should publicize the environmental clearance and people concerned, if any, should raise objections in a month.
Since a microlight aircraft landed on the slushy airfield at Aranmula in September 2005, when the project was under the control of Mount Zion Airport Service Private Limited, nothing much has changed on the ground for several years. Chennai-based KGS Group subsequently took over the project from Mount Zion group.
The promoter not only needs to reclaim a large swathe of low-lying marshland but has to acquire more than 250 acres of private land if the project has to be taken forward.
Sreeranganathan had filed the petition on December 17. In a separate petition, Kummanam Rajasekharan, representing Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council, a forum that is campaigning against the project, had also pleaded that the project be stalled. Both the petitioners have pointed out that the project has been proposed on wetland and hence would cause irreparable ecological damage. Rajasekharan’s petition, however,has not yet been taken up by the tribunal.
Sreeranganathan’s case has been posted to January 22 for further hearing. The petitioner had moved the tribunal in line with the conditions laid down by the Union ministry of environment and forests while giving clearance to the Rs.2,000-crore airport project on November 18. The ministry had said in the order that the promoter company should publicize the environmental clearance and people concerned, if any, should raise objections in a month.
Since a microlight aircraft landed on the slushy airfield at Aranmula in September 2005, when the project was under the control of Mount Zion Airport Service Private Limited, nothing much has changed on the ground for several years. Chennai-based KGS Group subsequently took over the project from Mount Zion group.
The promoter not only needs to reclaim a large swathe of low-lying marshland but has to acquire more than 250 acres of private land if the project has to be taken forward.
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