Mixed reactions as State approves land acquisition for Adilabad Airport

The State government's approval for acquiring 2,009 acres for the Adilabad Airport project has drawn mixed reactions. While residents welcomed improved connectivity, affected farmers sought Rs 2 crore per acre as compensation, citing soaring land prices and concerns over losing their livelihoods.

Adilabad: The State government’s approval for the acquisition of 2,009 acres of land for the proposed Adilabad Airport project has drawn mixed reactions. While some are elated over the government’s decision, farmers are concerned about the acquisition of their land.

While some are thrilled about the possibility of flying to nearby cities such as Nagpur or Hyderabad, farmers are the most worried as they fear the land acquisition would render them helpless, as their livelihood depends solely on cultivation.

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The affected farmers sought reasonable compensation for losing their land to the project. They demanded compensation of Rs 2 crore per acre of farmland to be acquired by the government. They reasoned that land prices had skyrocketed following the real estate boom in recent years. They stated that they would have to invest huge amounts if they wanted to buy a piece of land in the future.

Officials said that 1,600 acres of land located in Kachakanti, Khanapur, Thantoli and Anukunta villages had already been identified. Steps were being taken to identify the remaining land. Collector Rajarshi Shah convened a meeting with officials and instructed them to expedite the land acquisition process and ensure the quick release of compensation to landowners.

As per the order issued by the government, the Adilabad Airport project will support civil aviation passenger services, cargo operations, IAF training, MRO and other facilities. While 1,609 acres are to be acquired for the Indian Air Force, 400 acres have been earmarked for the Civil Aviation enclave. The estimated cost of the facility is Rs 2,278 crore.

In April, teams from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) visited the proposed project site in Adilabad. They carried out a survey titled Obstacle Limitation Surface (OLS) at the airport site. They inspected the surrounding area and assessed structures, trees and other objects that might become obstacles for aircraft