Thiruvananthapuram: Several groups have started collecting funds from the public, especially NRIs, on the yet-to-be decided airport proposal at Cheruvally estate in Kottayam. According to sources, apart from Indo-Heritage International Aeropolis Pvt Ltd, promoted by Global Indian Association, Travancore Airports Limited, promoted by those involved in the failed Aaranmula airport project, is also eyeing the project, which targets Sabarimala pilgrims and sizable NRI population in Pathanamthitta and Kottayam areas.
“Even applications for issuing shares are distributed in some parts of Gulf countries and the minimum share value is fixed at Rs 50, 000,” said an NRI businessman. However, top government sources said that no decisions have been taken on the airport project as yet. "The government is yet to take any formal decision on the project,” Chief Secretary S M Vijayanand told DC. Some NRIs are even calling up government officials asking about the prospectus of the project.
Mr P C George, MLA, said that anyone raising funds in the name of the project would be doing so at their own risk. "The Government has not yet decided whether to engage either of the two agencies for the project. A public sector bank had even offered financial assistance of Rs 1,000 crore for the project," he said. A row over the ownership of Cheruvally estate, proposed for the airport, seems to be the Government dilemma.
While the estate was under the possession of Believers Church, headed by Bishop K P Yohannan, a committee appointed by the government had earlier maintained that it was encroached land and the previous government even decided to take over the land. The GIA, a forum of Indians around the world, had earlier submitted to the Government a feasibility study report on the airport project. The firm claimed that the feasibility study was conducted by international consultancy firm, AECOM. It had suggested Laha and Kumbazha estates in Pathanamthitta apart from Cheruvally estate. The project cost was estimated around Rs 2,500 crore.
