12-05-2025
Erumely airport: govt. seeks to speed up land acquisition
Aimed at expediting land acquisition for the Sabarimala greenfield international airport, the authorities will soon open a special tehsildar office in Erumely or Kanjirappally.
Official sources said a special tahsildar too would be appointed for coordinating the acquisition process. An office of the general land acquisition tahsildar's under the Revenue department had already launched proceedings for a detailed survey of land to determine the boundaries and extent of the land to be acquired, including from outside Cheruvally Estate. The department had also requested about 60 staff for the process, which was expected to begin next month.
As per the latest order issued the government in accordance with the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 11 of the LAAR Act, a total of 1,001.873 ha (2,475.68 acres) will be acquired for the project in Erumely South and Manimala villages. This includes the 2,263-acre Cheruvally Estate, which is under the possession of the Ayana Charitable Trust, affiliated with the Believers Eastern Church.
The authorities have already completed a preliminary survey to establish the boundaries of the land to be acquired. 'A detailed survey will be carried out to prepare a basic valuation statement, which will then be followed by a detailed valuation statement to determine compensation. The aim is to finalise the acquisition of the land, for which compensation has been established, by December,' said an official.
Based on this, residents of the project area will receive a notice in advance outlining the extent of the land to be acquired.
The area of the land to be acquired, names and addresses of the property owners, etc., have already been published in the State gazette and newspapers. Notices will be issued based on this. The valuation of the land will be determined based on its type, such as farmland, fallow land, houses, structures, and trees in it and prices will also vary depending on whether the land has road access or not.
Compensation will be provided to the owners after the Revenue and Public Works departments hold hearings to resolve disputes. Alongside, the government will also initiate steps to declare a rehabilitation and resettlement package, as outlined in Section 19 (1) of the LARR Act, for the workers in Cheruvally Estate.
Detailed information about the land to be acquired will be available for the public at the Kanjirappally Taluk Office, village offices, and the relevant grama panchayat offices.
Meanwhile, steps to resolve the ownership dispute regarding Cheruvally Estate between the Ayana Charitable Trust and the government are also progressing in the subcourt in Pala. Official sources hinted at the possibility of the government proceeding with the land acquisition process after depositing the value of the land in court.
