Coimbatore: The state government is expected to release a sum of Rs 900 crore by March-end to acquire another five blocks for the airport expansion project in the city.Officials of the district administration revealed about the fund release a day after more than 100 landowners turned up at the collectorate demanding to speed up either lease payment or acquisition.An official said while funds for block 7 has already arrived, funds for five more blocks — one, three, 11, 12 and 20 — are expected to arrive by March-end.“It is being processed by the state government. It is taking time because it has to be passed by the land department, finance department and transport department, which will finally give us the funds,” said the official.The five blocks are all mixed areas, including barren land and buildings.Three weeks ago, the state government handed over Rs 75 crore to the district administration to acquire block seven. However, not a single cent has been registered yet. “Documentation work is yet to be sorted out in block 7. Documents of 41 of the 68 landowners have been cleared. Documents of the remaining 20-odd owners are in the process of being set right,” divisional revenue officer in charge of acquisition Balasubramaniam said.If funds do arrive for the above five blocks, acquisition of six of the 24 blocks would be completed.However, landowners are urging the state government to at least complete acquisition of land where owners are willing to hand it over. “They can complete acquisition of 90% of the land, whose owners are willing to give it up. So, we can move on with our lives, including finding an alternate land or roof over our heads. The stress is especially hard on senior citizens and middle-aged people with children in the marriageable age,” Aravindh, a landowner at Chinniampalayam, said.Landowners are even urging the government to accept the Airport Authority of India’s new proposals of accepting 468 acres. “The AAI says acquire whatever land is available and give it to us, we will start the development. The state government is not agreeing and is sticking to 627 acres. But difference in guideline values of all our lands is creating a confusion in Chennai and is delaying the entire project,” another landowner said.Kongu Global Forum also insists that the state government should acquire the full 627 acres. “The airport should expand in a way not to cater to the eight districts for just five to 10 years, but at least a few decades,” vice-chairperson of Kongu Global Forum Vanitha Mohan said. “The state government assures us that it has enough funds to acquire 627 acresveg and will be completed in the next few months,” she added.

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