Erumely Residents Form Action Council as Sabarimala Airport Project Stalls
Local stakeholders in Erumely are organizing protests to save the Sabarimala Greenfield Airport project from relocation and legal deadlock. The initiative follows court setbacks and a renewed push for alternative sites in Pathanamthitta district.
Legal Deadlock and Relocation Fears
The proposed Sabarimala Greenfield Airport faces a period of intense volatility as local residents in Erumely launch a formal campaign to prevent the project from being abandoned or relocated. Under the leadership of the Erumely grama panchayat, an action council has been established to pressure the state government into resolving the current impasse. This mobilization responds to rising anxieties that the project, originally slated for the Cheruvally Estate, may be shifted to either Aranmula or Kodumon in Pathanamthitta district.
A History of Judicial Setbacks
The state's plan to utilize 2,263 acres at Cheruvally Estate hit a significant legal wall in early 2026. In January, the Pala Sub Court rejected the government's ownership claim over the estate. This followed a December 2025 Kerala High Court ruling that quashed the notification to acquire 2,570 acres from the Ayana Charitable Trust of the Believers’ Eastern Church. While the state has appealed these decisions, the 160 families residing within the proposed site remain in a state of administrative suspension.
Competing Proposals in Pathanamthitta
As the Erumely site languishes in court, alternative proposals are gaining traction from different political and local interest groups:
- Aranmula: Advocacy for the revival of this defunct airport project has resurfaced, allegedly supported by high-ranking Congress leadership.
- Kodumon Estate: A separate action council is promoting 1,200 hectares of rubber plantation land as a superior choice, citing lower environmental impact and reduced displacement.
- Cheruvally Estate (Erumely): Proponents argue this site is the only viable option, having already secured technical clearances from the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Defence.
Action council convenor T.S. Krishnakumar suggests that the government could proceed by depositing the land value in court while the legal dispute continues, especially since the current owner has expressed no objection to the airport itself. Despite the competing lobbying efforts, United Democratic Front (UDF) sources indicate the government has not yet formally reviewed any plans to move the project away from Erumely.
Source: The Hindu — Home
