Over 3.4 lakh trees will be felled, and 352 families need to be rehabilitated for the construction of Sabarimala Greenfield Airport, according to the social impact assessment study report (SIA) published by the Kottayam district administration.

Among the trees which need to be cut, there are 3.3 lakh rubber, 2492 teak, 2247 wild jack, 1131 jackfruit, 828 mahogany and 184 mango trees. Seven religious institutions: St Thomas Ecumenical church, Hidayuthul Islam Juma masjid, Sree Amman Kovil, Sree Poovanpalamala Temple, St Gregorious church, St Joseph's church Karithode, Panchatheertha Parasakthi Devasthanam will be shifted as part of implementing the project.

The report notes that the livelihood of 347 families will be directly affected by the project. 238 families whose employment is associated with the Cheruvally estate and who reside here will lose residence and source of livelihood, the report says. The report also notes that a Cheruvally cow is found here, and this is an additional income source for the estate workers. Once they are shifted from here, the ecological system of the cow will be affected.

The project requires 1039.876 hectares of land which will be acquired from Manimala and Erumeli South villages. KSIDC, the project proponent, has stated that the proposed Sabarimala Greenfield International Airport has been envisaged for the convenience of Sabarimala pilgrims, NRIs, tourists, and other passengers.

It will improve access to pilgrimage sites in central Travancore, such as Vavaru Mosque, Maramon Convention, Ettumanoor Mahadeva Temple etc. The airport will boost the local economy and tourism, connecting key attractions like Kumarakom backwaters, Munnar hill stations, Gavi Forest, Thekkady Wildlife Sanctuary, Periyar Tiger Reserve, Idukki Dam, etc, according to the reply furnished in the parliament.