Ports Minister K. Babu has said that people who lose their land and other properties in the Kannur International Airport project area, near Mattannur, will be provided jobs as has been done by Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL).
Addressing a meeting of political leaders and representatives of a local action committee protesting against the land acquisition for extending the runway of the Kannur airport here on Monday, Mr. Babu said a 3,400-metre runway was essential for elevating the airport to international standards. Referring to the local protest against the survey of land identified for acquisition for extending the runway, the Minister said the decision to do the survey work was not imposed. The government had not yet changed its earlier order regarding rehabilitation of local residents losing their land and property, he said. Stating that reasonable compensation fixed by the District Collector would be provided to owners of land and property being acquired, Mr. Babu said that people who lost their houses would be given jobs on a priority basis. Applications would be invited from people eligible for employment under the rehabilitation initiative; he said adding that appointment would be made on the basis of a priority list.
The Minister said the Water Resources Department had started survey works for a Rs.25-crore project for protecting residents in the areas from floods caused by the ongoing airport project works.
The meeting demanded that the length of the airport runway be extended to 3,400 metres. District Collector P. Bala Kiran, Kannur International Airport Ltd. Managing Director G. Chandramouli, Mattannur municipal chairman K. Bhaskaran, former MP K. Sudhakaran were present.
