Villagers protest land acquisition for airport
Stepping up their campaign against the proposed acquisition of land for the next phase of expansion of the Tiruchi airport, a large number of residents of Keezhakurichi, Nathamadipatti and neighbouring areas on Tuesday took out a rally here urging the government to give up the move.
The renewed agitation comes after Revenue authorities recently began a survey to delineate the land to be acquired. It is spread across Keezhakurichi, Nathamadipatti and a few neighbouring villages and residential colonies behind the airport.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought about 430 acres for the proposed expansion, envisaging the extension of the runway from 8,000 feet to 12,500 feet. This will enable the airport, one of the non-metro facilities identified for development and expansion, to handle big (Code-E) aircraft such as B747-400 and B777-300. Originally, lands on both the eastern and western sides were proposed to be acquired.
Revised proposal
However, owing to opposition from residents on the western side, a revised proposal was worked out, which envisages the expansion towards the eastern side, behind the airport.
The runway is proposed to be extended across the Uyyakondan river (as has been done in Chennai).
A large number of residents, including a huge contingent of women, took out a procession from St. John’s Vestry Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School to the Collector’s Office, where they staged a demonstration. They carried placards and raised slogans asking the government and the AAI to drop the move.
Fertile stretch
“Most of the land proposed to be acquired for the project is fertile… The airport expansion will destroy our irrigation and drainage courses. Our livelihood will be affected,” lamented Savarimuthu of Keezhakurichi.
A. Arul of Nathamadipatti said that large tracts of land from the villages were acquired twice in the past for the airport development project and maintained that villagers could not afford to give up the source of their livelihood.
The residents also contended that the airport expansion would leave them without a direct link road to the city. The Nathamadipatti-Golden Rock Road, the main access to the city, would be closed once the lands were taken over by the AAI. This, the villagers said, would force them to take a long detour.
The renewed agitation comes after Revenue authorities recently began a survey to delineate the land to be acquired. It is spread across Keezhakurichi, Nathamadipatti and a few neighbouring villages and residential colonies behind the airport.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought about 430 acres for the proposed expansion, envisaging the extension of the runway from 8,000 feet to 12,500 feet. This will enable the airport, one of the non-metro facilities identified for development and expansion, to handle big (Code-E) aircraft such as B747-400 and B777-300. Originally, lands on both the eastern and western sides were proposed to be acquired.
Revised proposal
However, owing to opposition from residents on the western side, a revised proposal was worked out, which envisages the expansion towards the eastern side, behind the airport.
The runway is proposed to be extended across the Uyyakondan river (as has been done in Chennai).
A large number of residents, including a huge contingent of women, took out a procession from St. John’s Vestry Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School to the Collector’s Office, where they staged a demonstration. They carried placards and raised slogans asking the government and the AAI to drop the move.
Fertile stretch
“Most of the land proposed to be acquired for the project is fertile… The airport expansion will destroy our irrigation and drainage courses. Our livelihood will be affected,” lamented Savarimuthu of Keezhakurichi.
A. Arul of Nathamadipatti said that large tracts of land from the villages were acquired twice in the past for the airport development project and maintained that villagers could not afford to give up the source of their livelihood.
The residents also contended that the airport expansion would leave them without a direct link road to the city. The Nathamadipatti-Golden Rock Road, the main access to the city, would be closed once the lands were taken over by the AAI. This, the villagers said, would force them to take a long detour.
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