ERUMELI- Sabarimala Greenfield Airport again made a headline as the government issued a notification to acquire 1,000.28 hectares of land for the project.
Latest reports indicate that the construction phase of the airport will create 8,000 job opportunities. Land acquisition will take place in Erumeli South and Manimala villages.
Sabarimala Airport 8,000 New Jobs
According to the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) report by the State Pollution Control Board, 33% of the available land for airport construction will be developed into green cover, totaling 859.39 acres.
The report assures that small plants will be planted to compensate for the trees cut down for the project, with efforts made to minimize environmental impact during construction.
- Project cost: Rs 3,973 crore
- Phases: Two
- Total area: 2,569.59 acres
- Aerodrome area: 856.47 acres
- Runway: 3.5 km long, 45 meters wide
- Passenger terminal: 50,000 square meters
- Cargo terminal: 15,000 square meters
- Expected passengers: 2.45 million (by 2029-30), 6.42 million (by 2049-50)
- Fuel farm capacity: 3,000 cubic meters (required weekly)
- Additional development:
- Fire and rescue station
- Two-lane road to the airport
- Sound insulation for Karikkattor Reserve Forest
- Solar farm (including rooftop) generating 30 megawatts
- Silencers to control construction site noise pollution
- Sprinklers for dust control
- Preservation of natural drains at the construction site
Impact of Land Acquisition
The residential Migration of 362 families (1,441 individuals) lives outside the estate, while 221 families (875 individuals) are within.
Property Acquisition of 149 houses with concrete roofing, 74 with tin sheet roofs, and 30 with tiled floorings will be fully acquired. Additionally, six partially acquired houses with concrete and sheet roofs are noted. Beyond the estate, six commercial buildings, 98 residential structures, and 117 wells face acquisition.
Religious and Educational Institutions of Six religious institutions and Noel Memorial School will be affected.
The Environmental Impact of the construction site harbors diverse flora, including 11 tree varieties, medicinal plants, and numerous shrubs, are to be impacted. 8,000 jobs are expected during construction, with 600 direct appointments post-commissioning.
3.58 lakh trees, primarily rubber, will be felled, including 3.34 lakh rubber trees and 23,976 others. Significant water usage is anticipated during construction, with daily requirements outlined for each project phase.
The airport will need 33.45 MVA of power. A meeting on April 15 at the Assumption Forane Church aims to gather public input, which is vital for environmental clearance.
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