Aranmula Airport not under Centre's consideration: Mahesh Sharma

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Rs 2,000 crore Aranmula Airport proposed under the private sector, which is facing opposition from various quarters, was not under the consideration of the Centre as part of village airports, Union Minister Mahesh Sharma today said.

Sharma, who was here to inaugurate Aranmula boat race, said though village airports were under the consideration of the Centre, due to certain unique features of Aranmula village, the project was not included in the list.

The Minister of State for Tourism and Civil Aviation said the central government would take steps to declare Aranmula as a heritage village.

The project promoted by Chennai-based KGS group had run into trouble after environmentalists and local people launched an agitation holding that the project would destroy ecological balance of the area and also heritage sites.

The work on the project was stopped last year after the National Green Tribunal set aside the environment clearance given by the Central Government.

The project was also opposed by the CPI-M led LDF and the BJP in the state.