Left parties vow to escalate opposition against cargo airport

Several Left parties on Monday announced on Monday that they would intensify protests against the proposed cargo airport between Vajrapukotturu and Mandasa mandal. The left parties have already garnered support of the residents living in Vankuru, Rampuram, Bidimi and other places which stand to be directly affected by the cargo airport, which involves the government acquiring around 1,500 acres of land.

Speaking to The Hindu, CPI-M Srikakulam district secretary D. Govinda Rao alleged that the government would acquire more than 5,000 acres, although the initial proposal limits the area required to 1,500 acres. He fears that the coconut, cashew and mango groves would vanish completely if the airport is constructed. “There is no exclusive cargo airport anywhere in the country. But it is being proposed only in Srikakulam, in spite of objections from over five lakh people of the region. The government can construct the cargo airport, adjacent to the Mulapeta seaport or the Bhogapuram international airport,” said Mr. Govinda Rao.

CPI (ML) New Democracy Srikakulam district president Tandra Prakash said that the government was selecting Srikakulam district for environmentally harmful projects such as the —thermal power plant, atomic power plant, pharmaceutical industries— all polluting projects, despite massive agitation against the Sompeta thermal power project in 2010.

Cargo Airport Vyatireka Porata Committee president Komara Vasu and secretary Jogi Apparao said that the association would form village-level committees after Diwali to intensify the movement against the cargo airport. Mr. Vasu said that thousands of farmers risk losing their livelihood with the destruction of paddy fields and groves for the proposed airport.