KOCHI: Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju has said that the controversial Aranmula airport project can be revived only if it complied with the relevant rules of the country.
Speaking to reporters at the Cochin International Airport on Sunday, he said the Supreme Court had struck down the project, and the Centre could consider it again if the promoters apply anew after fulfilling relevant legal requirements.
The minister, however, said the Union government was committed to setting up of airports in smaller towns as part of developing aviation infrastructure.
Commenting on the minister's remarks, BJP state general secretary M. T. Ramesh said Aranmula airport was a closed chapter.
“It was not allowed as it did not comply with the environmental, defence and civil aviation laws," he said. “The civil aviation minister cannot simply say that a project cannot be allowed. He has to cite a reason. Hence, he said so. The project is irrelevant now.”
Poet and environmentalist Sugathakumari, one of the anti-airport campaigners, said the minister could very well reconsider the project.
“But I take this opportunity to remind him that we (the protesters) are still alive. We will see what we can,” she said curtly. KGS Group managing director Gigi George declined to comment.
The proposal for an international airport at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district suffered in May 2014 when the southern bench of the National Green Tribunal quashed its environmental clearance saying that the agency which did the study was not qualified.
