KOCHI: In a sharp criticism against the promoters of the proposed airport at Aranmula, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) termed the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) submitted by them as ‘inade

The Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Wednesday restrained KGS International Airport Ltd.

Judgement of the National Green Tribunal (Southern Zone, Chennai) in the matter of Sreeranganathan K.P. Vs Union of India & Others dated 29/05/2014 regarding granting of Environmental Clearance to M/s. KGS Aranmula Air Port Ltd., to set up an airport at Mallappuzhasserry, Aranmula and Kidangannur villages in Kozencherry taluk of Pathanamthitta District, Kerala

The tribunal has also ordered KGS Group, the promoters of the project, to stop all the construction activities going on at the project

The BJP had in fact gained a record vote share in Pathanmthitta constituency with BJP candidate M T Ramesh getting 1.3 lakh vote after pitching against Aranmula airport in his election campaign. “The new government will not change its stand vis-a ­vis the airport and will not support the project,“ Ramesh said.

Apart from the violations of environmental norms, the airport issue also struck a chord with the local RSS wing as the Airport Authority of India study report said that the height of the historic Aranmula temple mast needed to be altered if the project was to be implemented.

Says Region Waterlogged Property Now

The state government has claimed that the proposed Aranmula airport would not be coming up on a wetland. In a counter affidavit filed at the Chennai bench of National Green Tribunal in the case challenging environmental clearance for the project, the environment department says the project area didn’t figure in the wetland map prepared for the purpose of Wetland Conservation Rules 2010.

Former minister and CPI leader Mullakkara Ratnakaran on Tuesday inaugurated an indefinite satyagraha against the proposed Aranmula airport project organised by the anti-Aranmula airport coordinatio

Elephant that fed on plastic waste dead

Stung by the death of a wild elephant which fed on plastic refuses, Forest Department officials are contemplating a ban on plastic in Pampa, Sannidhanam and Nilakkal areas of Sabarimala. Discarded plastic refuses are posing threat to ecology and wild animals in the region.

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday refused to stay the proceedings initiated by the Southern Bench of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) in connection with the implementation of an airport project at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district.

The NGT had restrained KGS Aranmula Airport Limited from executing the project on an appeal filed by the Aranmula Heritage Village Action Council.

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Wednesday asked the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) to state whether any study had been conducted by it on the proposed Aranmula airport project.

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