VISAKHAPATNAM: The authorities of Srikakulam district are verifying suitable locations in the Sompeta area for airport construction. The local revenue authorities, led by Palasa RDO Venkatesh, examined a few land parcels near Baruva railway station.
It is recalled that the officials had already examined land parcels at the Vajrapukotturu and Mandasa mandal borders. However, agitation of local farmers forced them to verify other sites.
The authorities reportedly identified 1,000 acres at Baruva, Baruva Kotturu, Palasapuram, Lakkavaram, and Korlam. They will submit a report to govt and take the consent of the farmers of the concerned villages.
Govt prepared plans for more than 1,300 acres of land acquisition for construction of an airport close to Mulapeta Port, which is also under construction. A five-person team from the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and district revenue authorities, led by the Palasa RDO, visited and examined suitable sites for the airport on the borders of Mandasa and Vajrapukotturu mandals, including Ganguvada, Bethalapuram, Lakshmipuram, Bidimi, Anakapalli, and Onkuru villages.
Around 1,400 acres of land is needed for the construction of the airport, and around 1,100 acres must be acquired from the local farmers, as govt has only 300 acres of land in the Vajrapukotturu and Mandasa mandals. Farmers from several villages in that area agitated and alleged that land acquisition would affect their livelihood, as most of them depend on farming. This forced the authorities to examine other land parcels in the Sompeta area.
Meanwhile, minister for civil aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said that govt is committed to constructing several airports in the state. Srikakulam is one among the proposed airports.
District authorities are currently verifying several land parcels and will send a feasibility report to govt soon.
