The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Gannavaram airport expansion opposed

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Friday, May 23, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Gannavaram airport expansion opposed

Staff Reporter

GANNAVARAM: Opposing acquisition of land for the proposed expansion of the airport here, members of a newly formed committee against the expansion of the airport staged a dharna in front of the Tahsildar’s office while a few activists even locked the office after sending out the staff. They later submitted a memorandum to the office superintendent in the absence of Tahsildar, seeking justice to the poor people residing in the villages adjoining the airport.

The agitation was in response to a survey commenced by the officials of the Airports Authority of India along with the local revenue officials about a week ago to acquire 506 acres of land to expand the runway to 7,500 ft. from the existing 5,925 ft to pave the way for the landing of jumbo flights. The additional land is also required for upgrading the airport with several additional facilities.

Compensation

However, members of the committee claimed that the airport authorities had already acquired 80 acres of land in 1989 and they had not developed the land till now. “The officials are yet to pay compensation to the farmers who owned these 80 acres of land. Instead of developing the land, they are now planning for further acquisition. We are opposing it, as it is against the interests of the poor and small farmers,” said Y. Narasimha Rao, member of the committee and divisional secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s Gannavaram division.

He said that the proposed acquisition would close road connectivity to the residents .

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