YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has reiterated his resolve to support farmers who are opposing international airport at Bhogapuram.
Addressing a huge gathering of farmers from the nine affected revenue panchayats at Gudepuvalasa on Monday, Mr. Jagan told them to fight relentlessly and assured them that he too, if necessary, would visit Bhogapuram again to participate in their protest. This was his second visit to Bhogapuram in the past few months.
“The government has no right to acquire a cent of land without conducting social impact assessment. We will fight legally, if the government acquires land forcibly. If YSRC comes to power after three years we will return your lands,” he assured the gathering amid loud cheers.
Stating that 5,311 acres is not needed for the airport, Mr. Jagan said airport in Chennai was built in an extent of 1280acres, Mumbai 2,000 acres, Kochi 800 acres and Ahmadabad 960 acres. Quoting AAI Executive Director Kalpana Sethis’ report, he said the existing airport on 980 acres in Visakhapatnam could be developed further if the 1,000 acres of Navy/Port Trust land, abutting it, was acquired.
The ED’s report was now with Union Civil Aviation Ministry. But Union Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju had set it aside, possible on the direction of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu. According to AAI guidelines no airport must be built within a radius of 150 nautical miles from an existing airport, he added.
Earlier, Mr. Jagan called on members of Airport Vyathirekha Porata Committee at A. Ravivalasa, who are on relay fast for the past 25 days, and expressed his support to them.
He also consoled family of M. Pedda Krishna Murty, who had committed suicide by jumping into a tank recently.
Existing airport in Visakhapatnam can be developed further if 1,000 acres of Navy/Port Trust land, abutting it, is acquired
