Kerala Govt to Reassess Land Acquisition for Sabarimala Airport

The Kerala government has decided to withdraw preliminary notifications for the land acquisition for the Sabarimala Greenfield airport. A new Social Impact Assessment will be conducted. The High Court shut the current petition, acknowledging concerns from the Ayana Charitable Trust regarding alleged illegal land grabbing.

The Kerala government is set to withdraw initial notifications aimed at acquiring land for the Sabarimala Greenfield airport project in Kottayam district, following a plea from the Ayana Charitable Trust and its managing trustee, Siny Punnoose.

During the Thursday hearing, the High Court was informed of the government's decision to conduct a fresh Social Impact Assessment (SIA) through a different agency. Justice Viju Abraham proceeded to close the petition, keeping open other contentions from both sides.

The petitioners alleged that the land acquisition attempt was an unlawful effort to seize their 2,263-acre rubber plantation. The court had previously ordered a cessation of land acquisition steps for two months. The state government argues the airport will boost tourism, aiding pilgrims and the local economy.