Bhogapuram int’l airport project will affect locals: Brinda

Vizianagaram: CPM politburo member Brinda Karat today opposed the Bhogapuram greenfield international airport project, saying it will “ruin” lives of villagers.

“This project will ruin lives of people of neighbouring villages. We will raise the issue in Parliament and our MPs will fight on behalf of locals,” Karat said.

The Left leader toured Gudepuvalasa and other villages that will come under the proposed airport.

The project will come up on 5,311 acres in and around Bhogapuram, including 1,673 acres of government land, and will be built by the Bhogapuram International Airport Company Limited (BIACL), a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) owned by state government.

“The TDP government is misleading the common people by trying to make them believe that the airport will generate a large number of jobs.

“How can we believe this?..Many private airports in the country are cutting down their staff. This airport will be useful only for corporates and real estate dealers,” she alleged.

Karat accused the ruling TDP government of catering to the interest of rich at the cost of the common man.

“The government is looting the property of common man and transferring it to corporates,” she said.