Sabarimala Airport: Will withdraw notification on land acquisition, says govt

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government on Thursday informed the High Court that it will withdraw the notification regarding the acquisition of land for the construction of the Sabarimala Greenfield airport. The government also stated that it would issue a new notification on land acquisition.

The government also stated that a new agency will be entrusted to carry out steps such as the social impact study. The government took the stand in the wake of the High Court issuing a stay on the current notification. The High Court issued the stay on a petition filed by Ayana Charitable Trust under Believers Church.

In March, the state government had issued a notification to acquire 1000.28 hectares of land held by 441 people. After the evidence collection began, the Ayana Trust filed a petition stating that the social impact assessment and the determination of land ownership were carried out illegally. On April 24, the High Court single bench stayed further proceedings on the petition. The social impact assessment was conducted by the Center for Management Development. The petitioners alleged that it was an agency under the state government and was against central and state regulations. There is a dispute over who owns the land in the Cheruvally estate under the Believers Church.