Airport devpt: State govt gives nod to acquire land

Thiruvananthapuram: Though uncertainty prevails over the privatization of the Trivandrum International Airport, it does not seem to have affected the development works. The state government has given final approval for land acquisition for development of the airport.
Six hectares have been demarcated in Vayyamoola region for land acquisition for the construction of an integrated terminal. A gazette notification issued by the government states that the report on rehabilitation and resettlement submitted by the collector as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, is satisfactory and that the land has to be acquired for a public purpose.
The notification further states that 6.8025 hectares (excluding puramboke land) is required for the development works.The social impact assessment study, public hearing and publication of rehabilitation and resettlement package were completed. The notification for rehabilitation and resettlement package has identified 171 land owners in the area.
The district administration had submitted a proposal worth Rs 2.93 crore for rehabilitation and resettlement of the evictees, which has been approved.
Each artisan, small trader and owners of small shops in the area will be sanctioned Rs 50,000 each. Rs 25,000 will be provided to those who maintain cattle sheds in the area. Those who own buildings in the area will be sanctioned Rs 3 lakh. Also, Rs 50,000 will be provided as transportation expenses, Rs 50,000 as one-time settlement allowance and Rs 30,000 as shifting allowance. The package also includes a total amount of Rs 10.31 lakh for two families living in puramboke land.
As the next step in land acquisition, the airport land acquisition wing of the district administration will prepare the land value report to fix compensation for the evictees. They will also conduct a public hearing regarding the same at Vayyamoola.
“We have collected data through a survey which will be used to fix the land value. After publication of the report on compensation, the public hearing is likely to be held within a month,” said an official from airport land acquisition wing.