Land owners who attended the Coimbatore International Airport expansion meeting held in Coimbatore on Tuesday expressed displeasure at the rates offered by the government for their lands.

District Administration officials held a meeting at the District Collectorate with the airport authorities and general public in order to finalize the land for the expansion of the Coimbatore International Airport.

The officials have identified around 627.89 acres of land around the airport for expansion, consisting of 24 blocks.

Since, the 23 blocks adjoined five villages, including Kalapatty in Coimbatore North, Neelambur and Irugur in Sulur, and Singanallur and Uppilipalayam in Coimbatore South, the officials have been negotiating with the public to acquire the lands. “The remaining one block consisting of 133 acres is owned by the military and it will be dealt with by the government,” a higher official from the revenue department said.

He further added that officials would suggest a rate to the land-owners. “If the owners do not agree with the rates, their queries would be sent to the state government for consideration,” he added.

While the officials have already held talks with the plot owners of blocks 3 and 4 in Uppilipalayam, plot owners of the blocks 8, 9, and 10 met with the officials for negotiation. One of the owners said that the government had offered only up to Rs.500 per square foot, which is very low, and questioned if the government would offer the same to quarters offered by the state government.

“We have put all our money in our lands and hence we request the government to atleast provide jobs at the Neyveli Lignite Corporation to one of the family members as promised by former District Collector P. Umanath,” he added.