The
proposed Aranmula Greenfield Airport:
its
potential ecological, social and economic impacts -
a
preliminary appraisal
Dr. V. S. Vijayan
Sálim Ali
Foundation
Trichur
The report presents
the major impacts of the proposed airport on the biodiversity and ecology of
the wetlands and paddy lands in Aranmula and its adjoining villages along with
an analysis of the tangible and intangible benefits of this significant
ecosystem. It further analyses: (1) the EIA conducted by Enviro Care, India
Pvt. Ltd for the KGS Aranmula Airport
Ltd, who proposes the airport; (2) the need for an airport at Aranmula and, (3)
the inevitable need for restoring the paddy land and resuming paddy cultivation
in the area, which was mostly abandoned in the area for a few years for reasons
not attributable to the farmers. Economic aspects are not covered in detail;
only those aspects related to wetlands and paddy lands are dealt with.
1) A Chennai based business group, namely KGS Group, known as
KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd is proposed to build a private Greenfield Airport in an area extended to Aranmula,
Kidangannur and Malapuzhaserry villages, Kozhencherry Taluk, Pathanamthitta
District, Kerala (Fig. 1, 2a & b).
2) The area required for
the proposed Airport is 500 acres as given in the EIA report and also the
papers submitted to the Government of Kerala. But in their website it is given
as 700 acres. ( www.kgsaranmulaairport.com)
3) The total cost is
estimated at Rs 2000/ crores. Reliance group will have 15% stake in the project
4) The need for the
Aranmula Airport, according to the proponents as given in the EIA report are:
a. “Aranmula is
centrally located in between the existing International Airports at
Thiruvananthapuram and Cochin at about 138 Km. The proposed Airport will have a
direct influence to the central Travancore region”
b. an airport in
Aranmula would serve the increasing demands of air passengers from Pathanamthitta,
Kottayam , Idukki and some parts of Alappuzha
districts. “Out of the foreign and domestic tourists’ arrival to Kerala,
these four districts together accounts for about 21 per cent of foreign
tourists and 14 per cent domestic tourists”
c.
the
proposed Airport will provide infrastructure to
Sabarimala pilgrims who wish to travel by air
d.
an
airport in Aranmula would serve the travel requirements of non-resident Keralites, foreign and domestic
tourism and,
e.
the
airport in Aranmula will be a great facilitator for the Maramon Convention, one of the biggest
conventions of Christians accounting
for about 1,00,000 pilgrims
Resources
needed for the Aranmula Airport
According to the
available information and EIA report of the KGS Airport Ltd, the project would
require:
5) 500/700 acres of land, out of the 500 acres,
about 400 acres are paddy fields
(Aranmula Puncha) and wetlands
6)
12,000
litre/day of water during the first phase, and 58,500 litre/day during the
second phase The total requirement of raw water for this airport will be 7.55
KLD,
7)
A
23 m wide four lane approach road from the Aikkara Junction to the terminal
building and, from Parumoottumpadi Junction to Aikkara Junction. For both, land
has to be acquired.
8) The power requirement
during the operational phase in the
first phase would be 2 MVA and, in
future 4.0 MVA
9) The
major materials required are steel, cement, sand, metal, bricks, flooring
tiles/stones, artificial wood, sanitary and hardware items, electrical
fittings, water, etc (quantity has not been given anywhere in the EIA report).
10) Massive quantity of
sand for filling the vast expanse of
paddy field, around 400 acres
Impact
of the project on the ecology of the area
11) The rapid assessment
carried out by the Sálim Ali Foundation (SAF) brings out the salient features
of the ecology of the area; the irreparable damage that the airport will cause
to the ecosystem, biodiversity and the people. On the whole four days were
spent in the field making direct observations, discussions with local people
individually and in groups. The team
comprised four members, one each of a botanist and fish expert and, two ornithologists/wetland
experts.
Biodiversity
12) Only three aspects of
biodiversity; plants, fishes and birds - the major aspects of biodiversity of
the area, could be covered within the limited available time.
13) Plants:
On the whole 212 species of plants were
recorded from the area. Of these, 27 are endemic to the Western Ghats and 110
are economically important, mainly for its medicinal properties. Of the 212
species, 88 are wetland species which include those found along the earthen
bunds and in wet areas (Annexure 1).
14) Fishes:
In
total 60 species, including those
reported in the present and earlier studies were recorded from the area (Annexure
2). Out of which 42% of the fishes are endemic to the Western Ghats; 6.6 % endangered
and 5% vulnerable. 48% are of commercially high value fetching exorbitant prices
in the market. The species such as Wallago
attu, Channa marulius, C. striata, Labeo dussumeiri, and Horabagrus
brachysoma are highly sought after.
Among these, Labeo dussumeiri
is an icon of Pumba fishery resources and it is
endemic to the rivers feeding the Vembanad lake. About 10 % of the total
species found are of ornamental
value. It may be noted that 35 species
are migratory; migrating from the river Pumba to the paddy lands and wetlands
for breeding.
15) Birds:
The
present study recorded 80 species of birds,
while 85 were recorded in 2006 by the Kottayam Nature Society. Both
together, 103 species have been located from the area (Annexure 3). Of
these, 8 species are migratory and two,
namely Oriental Darter and Black- headed Ibis, are in the Near Threatened
category of the IUCN.
Ecosystem of the area
16) The puncha
paddy fields and wetlands in Aranmula, Mallappuzhassery, Kidangannur, Elanthur,
Mezhuveli and in the adjacent villages (fig.
3, 4) form the flood plains of river
Pumba and have become an inseparable
part of not only the overall ecology of
the area, but also the culture and heritage of this area.
17) As the proposed
airport area and the contiguous paddy lands and wetlands are the flood plains
of river Pumba, they serve as natural
flood control in the area whenever the river Pumba overflows, reducing the
impacts of flood on the local population and their lives considerably.
18) On the onset of
monsoon in June when the water began draining into river Pumba, a large number
of fishes migrate upwards against the current to the wetlands and paddy
fields for breeding. The wetlands act as ground for egg laying,
hatchery and nursery. In September when the activities for puncha initiates,
they migrate down into river Pumba which act as feeding ground.
19) For centuries, water
from paddy fields and wetlands that spread over Aranmula, Mallapuzhassery,
Kidangannur, and the adjacent villages used to be drained into river Pumba
through Valiyathodu also known for some distance as Kozhithodu before it joins river Pumba (Fig. 5,
6, 7, 8, 9).
20) When an earthen
approach road was constructed across Valiyathodu at Nalkalickal to facilitate
renovation of Nalkalickal bridge, it acted as a bottle-neck for the flow of
water both-wise, between river Pumba
and paddy fields.
21) As a result, water
from rain and overflow from the
Valiyathodu, got stagnated in the paddy fields making it impossible for
farming.
22) The deteriorating
ecological condition of the Kozhithodu also adversely affected the water flow.
Soil erosion and high degree of siltation have made the Kozhithodu almost non-functional
(Figs. 5 & 6)
23) Construction of the
air strip has aggravated the gravity of water logging in most parts. Farming was forced to be
abandoned in most areas since 1999.
24) Purchase of pieces of
paddy lands here and there for the airport since the last 10 to 12 years or so
has fragmented the padasekharams, making farmer collectives difficult to
function.
25) Aged and experienced
farmers who have been farming for generations in the area claim that the yield of
paddy used to be around five tonnes per hectare in the area which was
corroborated by the officials of the local Agricultural Department.
Intangible values of the Wetlands
and Paddy fields that would be lost
26) The most significant
loss, due to the proposed airport in Aranmula, will be the disappearance of a large extent of
wetlands and paddy fields, that too in a State that produces hardly 11% of the
total requirement of rice.
27) The total area of wetlands that would be reclaimed is
not clear. The area that the KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd. require is about 500 – 700 acres. The area
notified as Industrial Area by the Industrial Department is 500 “acres”.
Whether it is 500 acres or hactares is not clear. Using the survey numbers
included in the Notification, a map was prepared by Mr. Sreeranganathan, Retd, Sr.
Artist/Photographer of the Rubber Board who is a resident of Aranmula (Fig 2b.). The total area, according to this,
is about 500 ha, out of which the wetland is about 214 ha. Since the KGS group
has asked 500 acres (202 ha) in the first phase, all analyses are based on the
500 acres.
28) One of the most
significant values of these paddy lands and wetlands, not yet measured but
experienced, is the contribution that they make in maintaining the water level
in the wells and ponds in the villages around.
29) These wetlands and paddy lands serve as
reservoirs, maintaining the water and drain it into river Pumba during the lean
period, thus functioning as a natural irrigation system.
30) Even if no cultivation
is made, and if the paddy fields are left as such, their ecological services go
unhindered. The water levels in the
wells and ponds in the neighbouring villages continue to be maintained.
31) Local residents of the
area, especially farmers are quite aware of these and, hence are their strong protests
against the destruction of wetlands and paddy fields in the name of an airport.
32) These services of the
wetlands are called “intangible services” or “indirect services”. There are
many more such services, significantly at least 14 of them, such as climate
control, soil erosion, carbon storage,
waste treatment, nutrient cycling, raw material, food production, genetic
resources, recreation and cultural.
33) The global average
ecosystem services of the wetlands are estimated at Rs. 7, 39,250/ha. Since our
wetlands are much more complex, this value will be 3-4 times more. Accordingly
the annual ecosystem service values of the wetlands that would be lost for the
sake of airport will be between Rs. 35.48 crores and 47.31 crores. In other
words the people living in the area get ecosystem services worth Rs. 35.48 to
47.31 crore annually.
34) It is to be necessarily considered , that the impact of filling and raising the wetland
area for the airport does not confine only to the earmarked 400 acres but
goes beyond, affecting all the wetlands
and paddy fields over 3500 acres, as it completely bloc the water movement.
35) Therefore, the total
loss of ecosystem services should be
calculated for the entire area, i.e.;
for 3500 acres (1417 ha) which
would come to Rs. 314 to 419 crores
36) To provide these
ecosystem services, even if they are just impossible, the cost would be
unimaginably high. And, quite impracticable
Tangible
benefits of the wetlands in Aranmula and its adjoining villages
37) Tangible or direct
benefits from a wetland include among other things, production of fish and paddy.
38) In the present area of
1457 ha, if converted back into a cultivable state, the farmers claim that they
could produce nothing less than 5 tons per ha puncha, amounting to 7085 tonnes
annually. If the procurement price is
fixed at Rs.15/kg, it would be worth Rs.
10.63 crores. And, if it is organically produced, it can be at
least just the double, i.e.; around Rs
21 crores
39) Since the puncha
cultivation requires only four months, middle of December to end of April,
there is sufficient time left for fish culture. Dr. Padmakumar, Fish Expert
from Kerala Agricultural University, advises that a minimum of two tones of
fish per ha could be produced annually. At the rate of a minimum Rs.40/kg, in
the 1417 ha, the fish production would be worth for Rs. 11.34 crore.
40) Accordingly, in the
area earmarked for airport, (400 acres) the rice and fish production, would be
800 tonnes of pucha and 320 tonnes of fish; worth Rs. 1.2 crores and 1.28
crores respectively.
41) Therefore the total
benefits from the paddy fields and wetlands from the proposed airport area (160
ha) would be Rs. 37.96 to 49.79 and, from the total wetlands and paddy fields
that would be affected by the airport (1417 ha) would be Rs 335 to 440 crores
per year.
42) Please note that these
figures are tentative, but minimum. The figures on paddy lands are collected
from various sources, including the Agricultural Department, maps prepared by
the Kerala State Biodiversity Board, Google maps, and the map prepared by Shri.
Sreeranganathan of Aranmula.
Dislocation
of families
43) Total houses that
fall within the area declared as industrial area are not yet physically
counted. Nor is there any mention of
this in the EIA report of the KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd. The houses that could
be counted from the satellite map show 780 houses (Shri. Sreeranganathan,
personal communication). Many of the houses would not have been captured in the
satellite as they are under tree cover. There would be at least around 1000
houses. If we consider an average three
members in a house, the total number would be around 3000. How many of them
have to be evicted are not clear. The EIA Report (page 119) categorically
records that the existing population in the area has to be evacuated. But yet
it fails to mention the number of people to be evacuated.
44) Apart from this, since
a 23 m wide four lane approach road
from the Aikkara Junction to the terminal building and, from Parumoottumpadi Junction to Aikkara
Junction have to be laid as per the EIA
report, all the houses within this area
on either side also have to be evicted
and, the land acquired. This is not
mentioned in the EIA report.
Water
requirement of the project
45) Water requirement of
the project would be 7.55 KLD which the EIA report says (page34) would be met
both from its own bore wells supplemented by the Municipal supply.
46) Exploitation of the ground water will make the
situation further worse, as the wetlands, the source for charging the water
table, will be reclaimed for the airport.
Loss and damage to the
cultural heritage of the area
47) The Airport will
further destroy the cultural heritage of the area as several age old historic
temples and sacred groves are situated within the Industrial Area declared by
the Government
48) The famous Aranmula
temple, about 1500 years old, is just within 200 meters from the borders of the
Industrial Area notified.
49) An airport in Aranmula
would completely change the serenity and peaceful life of the people. There are,
it appears, proposals for techno-park, smart City, info-park, Textile Park,
food park multi-speciality hospitals and what not after the declaration of
setting up the Air port.
Booming
prices for land
50) All these have helped
only the land mafia. Ever since the
proposed airport was declared, we were told, the land cost in the area has gone
up several folds. A cent costing just Rs. 5000 a year ago in this famous temple
town currently demands Rs. 50,000/ to 1, 00,000/. The land mafia is up. As a result, a small piece of land for a
common man in the village for construction of a house has become near to
impossible
Environment
Impact Assessment of the KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd.
51) As per the Environment
Impact Assessment (EIA) Notification 2006, the KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd. got an EIA done through a private agency, namely
Enviro Care, India Private Limited, based in Madurai.
52) The EIA is quite
forthcoming when it deals with the
structure and design of the airport building, the number of passengers
expected to be using it in the first and final phase; the facilities for car
parking, the number of cars expected to
be parking and taking off; the physical features of the area, such as maximum –
minimum temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind rose diagrams, wind speed, air
quality, noise environment; the physico-chemical properties of the soil and
water; and a sewage treatment plan.
53) However, when it comes
to the biological scenario, the report is appallingly bereft of facts and
figures. And it appears the EIA team has not taken even the minimum required efforts to document the
biodiversity
54) Still worse is when it
talks of the ecology; nothing is given on the ecological impact. This cannot be
considered as a shortcoming or in-deliberate omission, as the EIA was done for
a project that would completely devastate the paddy lands and wetlands
amounting to an eco-catastrophe in the area.
55) The statement on
vegetation (page 87), supposed to have been based on a survey of 10 km radius
of the airport, claims the dominance of species of which except one (Euphorbia hirta) are neither present nor
expected to be present in the area. The
unedited list of plants as presented in the Report is given below:
“prosopis Juliflora,
Cassia auriculata, Morinda coreia, Borassus flabellifer, Cissus, Prosopis
Juliaflora, Acacia niolotica, A.planifrons, A.auriculiformes, A.ferruginea,
Zizipus Jujuba, Z.mauritiana, Z.xylophyrus, Morinda coreia, E.Corrigiologides,
opuntia dilleii, Agave angustiofolia, Aloe vera, cassia auriculata, Euphorbia
tortilis, E.hirta and few species of grasses. ”
56) These species could be
found only in dry lands. It is
surprising that although large part of the area is covered with wetlands and
paddy lands, the EIA could not find any
wetland species
57) In spite of the phenomenal data deficiency, the EIA
appears to have been very particular to state that “There are no endangered species in the study area.”
58) On the contrary, we
could locate 212 species of plants in the area with 27 endemics
59) Similarly the EIA
report is an apology to the faunistic wealth of the area, especially of the
wetlands.
60) The EIA claims that
“study includes survey of the animal communities such as insects, molluscs,
fishes, reptiles, birds and mammals (page 88 of the report)
61) However, it does not
specify the method followed for studying each group. Certainly the method followed for birds
cannot be used for studying the insects or snails.
62) Although the EIA
claims to have studied the fishes, reptiles and mammals, nowhere in the report
does it list out these faunistic elements.
63) For any attempt to
document the flora and fauna, the study has to be year round or at least
seasonal. In the present case the EIA report says: “majority of data on water
quality, vegetation, air and noise quality was collected during field studies
in August – October 2010”. Even if they have collected the data during this
period, that too apparently they have not, the three months data alone are
grossly inadequate to assess both the faunal and floral richness of the area;
especially for the purpose of impact assessment of a project which threatens
total destruction of the ecology of the area
64) Interestingly, the
report says: “Information on eco-system
within study area was collected from the State Agricultural and Forest
departments. The important flora species native to the area is enumerated. tests check survey was also under taken to
judge the correctness of the data collected” (page 18). Whether this was
done so is doubtful, as it is quite sure that no forest or agricultural department official would ever give a list of
plants which are not present in their area. On the contrary, if EIA team had
consulted the Agricultural department, it would have got valuable information
related to the ecology of the area.
65) Although
the EIA claims to have identified 52 insect species representing 14 orders, the
non-inclusion of the list of species, the method followed and, names of the
experts who identified the insect species makes the entire claim unacceptable. However, as though the EIA has not committed
an omission it says “there
are no rare or endangered species”[of insects}
66) Again, the EIA appears to have
either neglected or paid no serious attention to the avifauna (bird fauna) of
the area. It has not given the methodology, not even the time spent in the
field, but states that 34 species were
recorded. But no list is provided. It
may be noted that within about five hours, one afternoon and one forenoon, two
of us could locate 80 species (list attached). And, the Kottayam Natural
History has recorded 87 species; totally the bird list of the area goes to 103 species
with two Near threatened species of the IUCN and five migratory species.
Needless to say the area will have a large number of ducks and other migratory
species during the migratory season.
67) Therefore,
the statement in the ESA report that ”It was found during
study period that the location is devoid of any endangered flora and fauna in
10 km radius” is not qualified even to
describe as erroneous! In this context, it may be noted that during
our visits, we could cover only in around the wetlands which are under the
threat of reclamation, and not 10 km
radius which the EIA claimed to have covered. Yet, we could locate more than
double the number of species of birds.
68) The enormity of the shallowness
in the biological/ecological assessment of the area is abundantly obvious from
the following statements given in page 87:
“The environmental interactions of
these insects reveal that, they are interrelated and majority of them are
useful insects”, and page 88: “The presence of birds at different study sites
reveals that there is good relationship between the birds and its habitat along
with the vegetation. The maintenance of ecological balance could be seen among
study area”. Indeed, a typical
desk EIA.
69) Land in the area has been
recorded as “unclassified”
land in page 29 of the EIA report. At no stretch of imagination, could the land
in the area be classified so. Mostly the area is wetlands/paddy fields.
70) The report in page 28 says that there are no
archeological and cultural monuments within 10 km radius. There cannot be a
more erroneous statement than this, as the area is dotted with a large number
of temples of historical eminence; the famous Aranmula temple is only around
200 from the border of the proposed airport.
71) The impact statements in the ESI, especially on the
biological components do not deserve any attention. There cannot be a more
callous approach than this.
The EIA is silent on major environmental issues
72) The EIA is silent on the major impacts of reclaiming
wetlands and paddy fields that extends approximately 400 acres. Worst still,
the report does not even acknowledge that it is a wetland.
73) As the entire area is the flood plain of river Pumba,
whenever water level rises, the entire area gets inundated. Therefore, the
wetland areas now marked for the airport has to be raised at least 3-4 feet
from the rest of the area. This would amount to filling the wetlands about
10-12 feet high.
74) The EIA should have quantified the sand required for
this and, also mentioned the source of sand for the same.
75) A preliminary assessment made by us shows that it
would require a minimum of 96 lakhs tonnes of sand.
76) Since the source of material for the already filled up
area was a hill close-by, called Karimarathu mala, which was bulldozed (Fig. 10), the source for filling rest of the wetlands cannot
expected to be different. It could be
some hills which the KGS Group has
already purchased. The isolated pieces of land included under the Industrial
Area fortify this inference.
One
major question: Do we really require an Airport in Aranmula?
77) Kerala State, hardly
600 km in length and average 150 km in width, has already got three airports,
namely Trivandrum International Airport, Cochin International Private Airport,
Calicut International Airport and a 4th one, a green field
airport, at Kannur is being taken up.
That means on an average, there is one airport for every 150 Km.
78) Incidentally, the
Government of India’s guidelines for the Greenfield Airport specify that it
should be normally 150 km from any existing airport. The distance to Aranmula
from both the Trivandrum International Airport and the Cochin international
Airport is just 96 km air distance. And, by road from Trivandrum to Aranmula is
122 km and Cochin Airport even less – 104 km.
79) It is understood from the
press that even now some of the flights from and to the Cochin Airport are
being cancelled or adjusted with other air lines because of the lack of
passengers.
80) The Aranmula Airport,
it is claimed, is to cater the needs of mainly the NRIs from four surrounding
districts, namely Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Alappuzha and Idukki. It may be
noted that if the air passengers from these districts move to the Aranmula
Airport, the Cochin Airport and even the Trivandrum Airport will certainly
become not only non-profitable but may have to run at a loss.
A note on the
background of the proposed Aranmula Airport
It
may be necessary to give a brief background of the proposed airport to get a
clear picture
81) Since the last few
years, paddy fields in Aranmula area have been bought in the name of a Trust,
namely Mount Zion Educational Trust purportedly to fulfil the statutory
obligation of having an air strip to commence an Aeronautical Engineering
course at its college.
82) The local people, we
understand, did not raise any objection thinking that it was only for enhancing
the educational facilities of the children. However, no sooner than later it
was realised that the purpose for which the land was bought was for setting up an
airport.
83) The Chairman of the
Mount Zion Educational Trust, namely Shri. Abraham Kalamannil even told the
local people that since there has been no cultivation for the last couple of
years, he would begin fish culture.
84) The Educational Trust
appears to have purchased about 350 acres of land. It was not only bought, but was filled in
some parts (Fig. 11, 12) . The vital portion of the Valiayathod was filled
disrupting the flow of water between Pumba and the paddy lands and wetlands
85) However, on protests
of people, a diversion was made through which some amount of flow could be
restored to the east and south of the filled area. The portion that ran toward
east was completely reclaimed.
86) Even some of the
revenue land was also filled along with this which the RDO had ordered the
Thasildar to recover (Annexure 4 ; copy of RDO’s order).
87) The material for
filling was taken by bulldozing a hill near-by (Fig. 10).
88) The farmers got
agitated and filed a writ petition in the High Court of Kerala against filling
the paddy land and the construction activities. The Court in its judgement
dated 24 February 2005 ordered that no construction in the paddy field shall be
done unless statutory clearances are obtained (Annexure 5: High Court of
Kerala: W. P. No. 3917 of 2005; dated 24 February 2005).
89) A business group from
Chennai, namely KGS Group came into the picture and they bought 350 acres of
land from the Trust/ Abraham Kalamannil, its Chairman and floated a company called
KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd.
90) The Industrial Department
of the Government of Kerala on 8 September 2010, had given approval in
principle for the Greenfield airport with a condition that the company should obtain necessary land without
violating the existing rules and regulations (Annexure 6; copy of the
order).
91) However, the KGS Aranmula
Airport Ltd could not get the land registered in their name, as the district
Collector rejected its application since there was a case pending against Shri.
Abraham Kalamannil for reclamation of wetland.
92) Unfortunately, again,
the Industrial Department in a
tearing hurry declared the 500 acres
required by the KGS Aranmula Airport Ltd. as an Industrial Area, that too just
less than a week before the elections to the State Assembly was announced. Industrial
Area was declared on 24 February 2011.
93) It may be noted that
while doing so, the Government had not sought the approval or even opinion of
the local Panchayaths thereby violating the Constitutional provisions as per
the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution bestowing
the sole right to the Gram Sabha for plan development in the area.
94) The local people,
raised protests against the Greenfield Airport at the cost of their paddy
fields and wetlands.
95) The District Collector
called a meeting of all concerned parties during the end of December 2011, and
as per the news paper report (Hindu December 31, 2011): the meeting “decided to
recommend to the Government to de-notify the 500 acres of land declared as
industrial area in Aranmula, Mallappuzhassery and Kidangannur villages.” “ The
meeting has also decided to stop all further proceedings with regard to the
proposed private airport till the notification declaring 500 acres of land
spread across the three villages was withdrawn”
96) It may be noted that the Ministry for Civil
Aviation, according to its then Minister’s (Shri. Vayalar Ravi) statement in
the Lok Sabha, no permission was granted to the KGS Aranmula Airport Project
(Annexure 7 ; copy of the statement made in the parliament)
97) The Defence Ministry has also not given
permission till the last week of January 2011 (Annexure 8; copy of a letter from the Defence Minister
to a Member of Parliament)
Recommendations
98) The Government must
seriously examine whether Kerala requires a 5th Airport, the one
proposed in Aranmula. As it is today, the State will have one airport at an
interval of 150 km when the Kannore airport is built and commissioned.
99) The analysis should
consider the data of flight frequency, the airlines which are operating,
whether the seats are full, if so, whether additional flights could meet those
requirements, the number of national and
international passengers from Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Kottayam and Alappuzha,
100) If it is convincingly
found that an airport is required, that means even with additional services the
requirement could not be met, a
suitable place other than wetlands, paddy lands and forests may be located.
101) Under no
circumstances, shall the paddy lands and wetlands be converted, nullifying the
Kerala Paddy land and Wetlands Conservation Act, 2008. It may be noted that
Kerala was the first in the country to bring out such an act to save its
dwindling wetlands and paddy fields. The sagacity and wisdom behind the Act
shall not be allowed to become a laughing stock.
102) When the State is expected
to take concerted efforts to bring every inch of land under cultivation to fill
the huge gap between production and demand for paddy; 5 lakh tones and 45 lakhs
tonnes respectively, it cannot even think of giving away 400 acres of wetland
and paddy lands for an airport. Whether it is run by the Government or a
private party is immaterial.
103) The Government should
immediately bring out a programme to restore agriculture in the area along with fish
culture and duck rearing.
104) The local people are
crying for such a start which would, in a sense, apart from all the economic
returns, help restore the cultural legacy of the area.
105) It would, certainly, not
be a mean task to de-silt the Kozhithodu, restore the Valiayathodu, and
removing the litre from the paddy lands to begin agriculture. Whatever may be
the mighty task, the Government inevitably owes that to the farmers of that
area, as they had discontinued farming for no fault of them, but solely of the
Government.
106) The Zion Educational
Trust (Shri. Abraham Kalamannil) should be persuaded to use the paddy lands
already bought by them for paddy cultivation.
107) Under no circumstances
shall exception be given for converting the paddy lands and wetlands under the
Kerala State Paddy lands and Wetland Conservation Act, 2008. The provision for
“exception for public purpose” will not be applicable here.
108) In all practical
purpose, the term “public” in the present context means national/ international
passengers who are currently using the airport at Cochin or Trivandrum. The airport
is used only for a handful of such selected class of people. Will it then be correct to distinguish this
as ‘public purpose’?
109) On the other hand,
although the wetlands and paddy fields are in private hands, they serve a huge
public purpose by controlling floods, nourishing the ponds and wells and serve
as breeding ground for a large number of commercially important fishes. This
would undoubtedly serve more “public purpose”.
110) In short, the airport
is for a selected few, whereas the wetlands and paddy lands are for the public.
The Government’s choice lies between the two.
111) Since the wetlands are
a common property, as they serve public purpose, no government can sacrifice
the very common property for the benefit of a few.
-----------------
The team who made the study
comprised Dr. Sujanapal (Botanist), Dr. C. P. Shaji (Fish Expert), Dr. Lalitha Vijayan and Dr. V. S. Vijayan (Ornithology and wetland
ecology).
Acknowledgement
The discussions with
the Agricultural Officers of Aranmula, Mallappuzhassery and, Assistant Director
and Deputy Director of Agriculture covering these areas were quite useful. We
are grateful to them.
We are grateful to
Shri. Sreeranganathan, (Retd. Artist,
Rubber Board) and the native of Aranmula, who has been of great help to
us during our various field trips and also help organise various group and
individual discussions
Many farmers,
including Shri. Uthaman shared their experience in farming which helped us to
understand the system well.
My special thanks are due to Dr. T. V. Sajeev of
Kerala Forest Research Institute for all the efforts he took to bring out the
report in a presentable form.
That the Congress leader and Vice Chairman P J Kurien, and Anto
Antony MP are using all their might in Delhi to see the airport through is a
matter of grave concern. Political connections of the KGS Group may help them
with the government but at the ground level the people of Aranmula and the
wider people of Kerala are beyond their reach. The battery of permissions that
are required from the Village Office to Panchayat, District to State are all
pending and the till date the company has not come out with a transparent plan,
or other convincing project milestones. The only thing they are doing is
calling Press Meets and making the Chief Minister make statements.
.jpg)
