KOTTAYAM: After the Cabinet decided to build a new airport on the 2, 263-acre Cheruvally estate the real estate business is thriving in the area. The land value has doubled, though the case over its ownership, now in possession of the Gospel for Asia, is before the Kerala High Court. Local people say a cent previously available for Rs 1 lakh fetches Rs 2 lakh now and there are many sellers."People are selling as they get double the amount," P.K.S. Das of the Bhoo Samara Samithi which is on an indefinite strike at its entrance told DC. Plots at Kanakappalam 2 km away from the proposed Sabarimala airport are on sale, but discreetly. "Most of them are not willing to share details," said a resident.
The records at the Erumely sub-registrar office also recorded an increase in the registrations, from 135 in 2016 August to 212 in the same month this year, the month that followed the July 20 decision. In September, it went up to 127 from 108 last year. T.P. Thomas, the head clerk, said the sub-registrar office whose jurisdiction extended to Erumely South, Manimala, Erumely north and Koruthodu, had received many inquiries since. The HC's single bench of Justice P.V. Asha had declared it as the government land illegally acquired by the Harrison Malayalam and sold to the church. The Gospel for Asia had appealed the judgement in a division bench, which maintained status quo prohibiting the transfer or alienation of the land.
