Thiruvananthapuram: Loyola College roped in to list impact of airport expansion
Thiruvananthapuram: State government has decided to engage Loyola College of Social Sciences to conduct a social impact assessment (SIA) of the 18.53 acres to be acquired for the expansion of Thiruvananthapuram airport.
The government also decided to go in for a negotiated acquisition of the land. The Revenue department authorities are initiating steps to issue notification to commence the survey of the land to be acquired.
Government sources said that Loyola College has been selected from a panel prepared by the government for conducting the SIA. A formal notification in this regard would be issued soon.
As per the existing norms, SIA is mandatory for acquiring land for development works. The compensation packages to the land owners would also be decided on the basis of the SIA.
A meeting convened by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in last December decided to conduct the SIA considering the strong objections raised by local people against the land acquisition.
Meanwhile, the revenue department has initiated steps to issue the mandatory notification to commence the survey. Sources also said that the government would be going for a demand purchase procedure in which the price of the land would be negotiated with the land owner. About 80 families are residing in the proposed land.
Mr Vijayan had earlier assured that about 50 cents of land near Muttathara, identified for acquisition, would be exempted considering the demand of the local people. At present, about 30 to 40 families stay in this area. The land was identified for expansion of the runway.
The Airports Authority of India plans to construct a new domestic terminal in the acquired land. It would be adjacent to the new international terminal building.
It may be recalled that though the revenue officials earlier initiated steps to take over the land, it was called off following stiff protest from local people. Subsequently, the Chief Minister initiated talks with local residents.
