Kuppam Airport Project Gets Compensation Nod For 178.32 Acres
The collector also informed the government that the farmers had no objection to surrendering the land after receiving the compensation
TIRUPATI: The Andhra Pradesh government has made a special exception to its land compensation rules to pay 143 farmers who do not have formal title records for 178.32 acres being acquired for the proposed Kuppam greenfield airport.
The proposed greenfield airport in Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Kuppam constituency is aimed at improving connectivity and supporting industrial and agricultural activity in the region. This is part of the Swarna Kuppam Vision 2029 plan to develop Kuppam as a satellite city. This would have links to the Chennai Bengaluru industrial corridor and cargo facilities, including cold storage and temperature-controlled infrastructure for agricultural produce.
The airport requires 1,405 acres in Ramakuppam and Santhipuram mandals. The district administration has acquired a substantial portion of the required land by paying `16 lakh per acre.
The latest government order concerns 178.32 acres cultivated by farmers who don't possess DKT pattas, succession records or other documents required to establish ownership, despite having cultivated the land for several years. However, the government has sanctioned `12.44 lakh per acre as compensation, amounting to about `22.18 crore.
The decision followed a proposal from Chittoor collector Sumit Kumar during the land acquisition process.
The collector reported that the farmers had brought several stretches of gayer and hill poramboke land under cultivation after spending their own money to develop the parcels. Most of the land is being used for rain-fed farming.
As the land is required for the airport, the district administration proposed compensating the cultivators and taking possession of the parcels. The collector also informed the government that the farmers had no objection to surrendering the land after receiving the compensation.
The government subsequently approved the proposal as a special case. The compensation, however, will not amount to recognition of ownership rights. Chief secretary Sai Prasad ordered that the payment be treated as a single settlement, and that the beneficiaries will not be entitled to claim any further compensation.
The order covers land in seven villages. The largest parcel is 51.23 acres in Ammavaripeta, cultivated by 29 farmers, followed by 48.11 acres in Manendram involving 33 and 46.74 acres in Kilakipodu involving 44 farmers. The remaining land is spread across Kadasinakuppam, Bondalagunta, Sonneganipalle and Dandikuppam.
Officials said the approval would allow the district administration to take possession of the remaining parcels and proceed with the airport land acquisition.
