Union government okays Sabarimala Airport; environmental, social impact study underway

Kottayam: The much-awaited Sabarimala airport, proposed to be built at Cheruvally Estate in Kottayam district, has received the site clearance from the Union Ministry of Aviation. This significant development comes after the state's submission of the technical and financial feasibility report, paving the way for the project to move forward. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had announced just two days ago that Kerala had obtained all the necessary approvals and was proceeding with the project with full steam ahead.

With the approval of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, other clearances such as those from the Ministry of Environment, Airports Authority of India, and Ministry of Finance, among others, can be sought. However, the Ministry of Defense has already granted permission for the project. Currently, an environmental and social impact study is being conducted in the area, as confirmed by Special Officer V Tulsidas.

The Sabarimala airport is planned to be constructed on a sprawling 2,266 acres of land in Cheruvally Estate. During the preliminary feasibility study, the Ministry of Civil Aviation had expressed concerns about the direction and structure of the runway, particularly the tabletop design which was deemed less secure. In order to address this, a decision was made to acquire an additional 307 acres of land outside the estate, which has already been notified. Once completed, Sabarimala airport will boast the longest runway in the state, measuring 3.5 kilometre.

As part of the updated report submitted to the Union Ministry of Aviation, Kerala also highlighted the aerial distance between Sabarimala airport and Madurai airport, which was found to be 148 kilometre. It was clarified that the operation of Sabarimala airport would not impact the operations of Madurai airport. Taking this into consideration, the Ministry of Aviation granted the necessary permission.

It's worth noting that Cheruvally Estate is currently owned by the Believers Eastern Church, and the government's case to establish its right over the land is pending in the Pala court. The government argues that land tax cannot be accepted in the name of Ayana Charitable Trust, as claimed by the Church, as there is no evidence to support this assertion. The Church, on the other hand, has obtained permission from the High Court to pay the tax. The resolution of this matter remains pending.