The prolonged delay in implementing the proposed Sabarimala Greenfield Airport has triggered growing resentment in Erumely, with residents of the panchayat rallying behind a campaign to get the long-stalled project back on track.Seeking to ramp up pressure on the State government, an action council has been formed under the aegis of the Erumely grama panchayat. The move comes amid concerns that the project has drifted into uncertainty following the change in government and renewed demands from some quarters to shift the proposed airport to Pathanamthitta district.Although the State had identified 2,263 acres at Cheruvally Estate in Erumely for the airport, it suffered a major setback in January 2026 when the Pala Sub Court dismissed the government’s claim over the estate. Barely a month earlier, a Single Bench of the Kerala High Court had quashed a government notification to acquire 2,570 acres from Cheruvally Estate and adjoining areas.The land is currently owned by the Ayana Charitable Trust of the Believers’ Eastern Church. The State has challenged the court verdict and the matter remains pending.The uncertainty has been compounded by reports of attempts to revive the long-defunct Aranmula airport project, purpotedly with the backing of some senior Congress leaders, further fuelling anxiety among families living within the proposed airport site.”The delay in implementing the project has left nearly 160 families, who had earlier received land acquisition notices, in limbo,” said T.S. Krishnakumar, convenor of the action council.With reports also suggesting attempts to shift the airport to either Aranmula or Kodumon in Pathanamthitta district, the Erumely grama panchayat recently adopted a resolution urging the government to go ahead with the project at Cheruvally Estate.The action council alleged that the move to relocate the airport was being driven by some senior Congress leaders, even as Congress MLAs representing Poonjar and Kanjirappally have thrown their weight behind the Erumely proposal. It also pointed out that the project site at Erumely had already secured key Central clearances, including in-principle approval from the Ministries of Civil Aviation and Defence.Arguing that Cheruvally Estate had already been identified as the most suitable site and that crores of rupees had been spent on preliminary works, the action council demanded that the remaining hurdles be removed and the project implemented without further delay. It also resolved to launch direct protests if the government failed to act.“Even if the legal dispute is yet to be settled, the government should explore the possibility of proceeding with land acquisition after depositing the value of the land, as the present owner has already expressed no-objection to the project,” Mr. Krishnakumar said.The formation of the action council comes at a time when the campaign for an airport in Pathanamthitta district is gathering momentum. Apart from efforts to revive the Aranmula airport project, another action council has pitched Kodumon Estate as an alternative site. Proponents of the Kodumon proposal argue that the availability of around 1,200 hectares of rubber plantation land, minimal environmental impact, limited displacement and better connectivity make it a viable alternative.Despite the competing campaigns, UDF sources said the government was yet to consider any proposal to relocate the airport from Cheruvally Estate to Pathanamthitta district. Published - July 29, 2026 07:52 pm IST