Thiruvananthapuram: Cabinet on Wednesday scrapped all orders related to the proposed Aranmula airport project.
The decisions scrapped include the “in-principle” sanction granted to the project. The project promoted by KGS group was opposed by various environment groups, political outfits and NGOs alleging that it would wreak havoc with ecology and environment.
Cabinet cancelled the decisions to acquire shares in the project and announce 350 acres of land as an industrial zone. It may be recalled that Pinarayi Vijayan government had filed an affidavit before the High Court in August in which it had stated that the decision on notifying about 500 acres land in Aranmula as an industrial area. Since the entire area constituted paddy and wetland it could not be used for any other purpose legally.
Despite BJP state unit's opposition to the project right from the beginning, the MoEF expert appraisal committee on July 29 had granted permission to the promoters to carry out an environment study.
It may be recalled that the National Green Tribunal had in 2014 set aside the environment clearance given by the UPA Government to the project and directed the promoters to stop all construction activities at the site. The NGT had passed the order on a petition filed by the Aranmula Heritage Village Protection Action Council.
There was stiff opposition to the proposed airport from devotees of Sri Aranmula Parthasarthy Temple who feared that the airport could damage the structure of the temple.
The LDF government is now keen on having an airport at Erumeli for the benefit of Sabarimala pilgrims. The chief minister had held preliminary discussions with union civil aviation minister in Delhi recently.
