Kochi, The Kerala government has informed the High Court that it will withdraw the preliminary notifications issued by it to acquire land for construction of Sabarimala Greenfield airport in Kottayam district.
The government has also told the court that it will carry out a new Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study in respect of the project through a different agency.
The submissions were made to the court on Thursday, June 20, during the hearing of a guilty plea by a charitable trust and its trustee challenging the land acquisition notice.
In view of the government's submissions, Justice Viju Abraham closed the petition "leaving open all other disputes of both parties."
On April 25, the court had directed the state government not to take any further action for two months in connection with the preliminary notification to acquire land for the construction of Sabarimala Greenfield airport.
The petitioners, Ayana Charitable Trust and its trustee Siny Punnoose, had alleged that the land acquisition process was aimed at illegally seizing their property, a rubber plantation measuring around 2,263 acres.
The trust, represented by lawyers P Haridas and Rishikesh Haridas, claimed that the state government has been trying to "grab its property" since it acquired the land in 2005.
In its plea, the trust also cited several orders of the Kerala High Court quashing actions initiated by the government to allegedly seize its land.
The state government had earlier said that the Sabarimala Greenfield airport will make it convenient for pilgrims coming from other states to reach the hilltop shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. He said having an airport there would also promote tourism and boost the economy.
The Center has granted siting and defense clearance for the Sabarimala Greenfield airport project, which is being developed on land in Erumeli South and Manimala villages in Kottayam district.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had told the state Assembly in February that the Home Ministry was examining the application for security clearance for the project.
The petitioners, in their pleading, sought the annulment of the appointment of the Center for Management Development (CMD) to conduct the SIA study, its report, the recommendations of the expert committee, the sanction granted to proceed with the acquisition and the notification of acquisition of the land.
The government has also told the court that it will carry out a new Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study in respect of the project through a different agency.
The submissions were made to the court on Thursday, June 20, during the hearing of a guilty plea by a charitable trust and its trustee challenging the land acquisition notice.
In view of the government's submissions, Justice Viju Abraham closed the petition "leaving open all other disputes of both parties."
On April 25, the court had directed the state government not to take any further action for two months in connection with the preliminary notification to acquire land for the construction of Sabarimala Greenfield airport.
The petitioners, Ayana Charitable Trust and its trustee Siny Punnoose, had alleged that the land acquisition process was aimed at illegally seizing their property, a rubber plantation measuring around 2,263 acres.
The trust, represented by lawyers P Haridas and Rishikesh Haridas, claimed that the state government has been trying to "grab its property" since it acquired the land in 2005.
In its plea, the trust also cited several orders of the Kerala High Court quashing actions initiated by the government to allegedly seize its land.
The state government had earlier said that the Sabarimala Greenfield airport will make it convenient for pilgrims coming from other states to reach the hilltop shrine of Lord Ayyappa in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district. He said having an airport there would also promote tourism and boost the economy.
The Center has granted siting and defense clearance for the Sabarimala Greenfield airport project, which is being developed on land in Erumeli South and Manimala villages in Kottayam district.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had told the state Assembly in February that the Home Ministry was examining the application for security clearance for the project.
The petitioners, in their pleading, sought the annulment of the appointment of the Center for Management Development (CMD) to conduct the SIA study, its report, the recommendations of the expert committee, the sanction granted to proceed with the acquisition and the notification of acquisition of the land.
