Indian
Express: Kochi: Friday, 19 December 2014.
The state
government has dropped the proposal to set up feeder airports in Idukki,
Wayanad and Guruvayur.
According to
information available under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, the proposal to
set up the feeder airports was dropped owing to people’s agitation against land
acquisition.
The projects
were mooted citing that the feeder airports in Idukki and Wayanad, both in the
Western Ghats, would boost the tourism sector, while the airport at Guruvayor
would promote pilgrimage tourism.
However, With
regard to the proposed airports at Idukki and Wayanad, even the study was
foreclosed due to protests against land acquisition, said the RTI document.
In Idukki, land
was identified at Anakkara for the project.
The State
Government had identified 450 hectares of land for the airport, and a
feasibility study in 2009 found that the location identified for the project
was ideal.
In Wayanad,
land was identified at Panamaram for the project. The government said that a rehabilitation
package would be worked out, and that those being displaced would get
compensation as per the market rate.
The airport
was proposed to be developed in the public-private partnership model. It was
pointed out that the project would give a boost to tourism in Wayanad, which is
connected only by road.
Around 400
acres of land is required for the proposed airport at Guruvayoor.
However,
there has not been much progress in the project, though a four-member
delegation from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had visited the site
identified for the project.
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