Land takeover for Salem airport expansion flayed

The government has taken efforts to acquire farm lands spread over in Kaamalapuram, Pottiyapuram, Thumbipadi and Sikkanampatti villages for upgrading the airport at Kaamalapuram. The farmers claimed that they have been earning their livelihood through farming and doesn’t know any other vocation. 

“We eke out a living through farming. Our only source of livelihood will be lost, if our lands are taken away. The government should look into alternative options for airport expansion works,” said the protesting farmers. 

The farmers wanted the government to carry out airport expansion works by taking over waste and non fertile lands. There are about 3,000 families living in these four villages, which were earmarked for land acquisition. 

A minor scuffle ensued at the Collector office, when police barred farmers from submitting petitions individually. Following this, the revenue department officials held talks with the protesting farmers and received individual petitions given by each one of them. 

The farmers threatened to commit suicide with their families if the government goes ahead with the land acquisition process by ignoring the demands of the villagers. 

Villagers claimed that those who gave their land for setting up the airport in the past haven’t received the compensation amount yet. The Kaamalapuram airport, which remained defunct for about seven long years, commenced operations with the start of the flight service between Salem and Chennai last week. 

The airport was set up at Kaamalapuram near Omalur in Salem district in 1993. The NEPC Ltd was the first to start flight operations between Chennai and Coimbatore via Salem, but the service was suspended due to lack of patronage. In 2009, Kingfisher Airlines started a service between Salem and Chennai, but dropped operations within a few months due to similar reasons. 

While farmers opposed the airport expansion by acquiring their lands, the industrial bodies have been urging the state government to speed up airport expansion works to fly international flights connecting Salem to major cities.