Minister rules out mass eviction

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Giving a ray of hope to the residents of Vayyamoola near Vallakadavu, who are facing the threat of mass eviction in the name of airport development, Minister for Transport and Thiruvananthapuram MLA V S Sivakumar on Tuesday assured them that their concerns would be addressed while acquiring land for airport development.The Minister gave this assurance at a meeting convened in his chamber with the representatives of the Vallakadavu-Vayyamoola Joint Action Council. The local residents of Vayyamoola were on the path of agitation by forming the action council ever since the Airport Authority of India decided to expand the airport by 80 acres, which would be acquired from Vayyamoola. Sivakumar said that some confusion existed regarding the acquisition of the land. But there will not be any mass eviction as feared by the local residents. A meeting will be convened with the participation of the CM to discuss the issue, he said.  Sivakumar assured the Vallakadavu-Vayyamoola joint action council members that the land for further expansion of the airport would be acquired only after addressing the concerns of the residents of Vallakadavu and Vayyamoola. Meanwhile, the action council leaders urged the govt to direct the Airport Authority of India to ensure proper utilisation of the land. They said there was no urgent need to acquire more land as the airport had adequate land for further expansion.