1 week ago
CPI(M) Seeks Parandur Airport Committee Report Release
The CPI(M) wants the government to publish a report about a proposed airport at Parandur.
The report was written by a committee that studied whether the airport would work and what worries local people had.
CPI(M) leader K Shanmugam says Chennai needs another airport, but not at Parandur.
He says the project could damage ponds, other water bodies and fertile farmland.
He also wants land already taken from farmers to be returned if it is not used.
The report has not yet been made public, according to the reports.
The Chief Minister was reported to have said that the Parandur airport plan would be dropped and another location found.
The CPI(M) also raised issues about prices, land titles and debate time in the Assembly.
CPI(M) State Secretary K Shanmugam demanded immediate publication of the Machendranathan committee report.
The committee examined the feasibility and public concerns surrounding the proposed Parandur greenfield airport.
Shanmugam supports a second Chennai airport but opposes Parandur over water bodies and farmland concerns.
He urged the government to return acquired land to farmers if the project is abandoned.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay reportedly said the Parandur project would be abandoned and another site identified.
- Who
- CPI(M) State Secretary K Shanmugam and the Tamil Nadu government are central to the report dispute.
- What
- Shanmugam demanded publication of the Machendranathan committee report on the proposed Parandur greenfield airport and called for the return of acquired farmland.
- Where
- The demand was made in Chennai; Parandur is near the Chennai-Bengaluru highway, about 28 kilometres from Sriperumbudur.
- When
- The demand was made on Wednesday; the statewide outreach campaign runs from August 26 to August 31, and the Chief Minister’s announcement was made on Monday.
- Why
- Shanmugam said the public should know the committee’s recommendations and opposed Parandur because of possible damage to water bodies and multi-crop agricultural land.
CPI(M) and Project Critics
Project and Government Position
Release of committee report
CPI(M) and Project Critics
CPI(M) leader K Shanmugam says the findings should be published so the public can know what the committee recommended.
Project and Government Position
The reports state that the previous DMK government did not release the report during the two years after it was submitted; no explanation for withholding it is provided.
Airport location
CPI(M) and Project Critics
Shanmugam says Chennai needs a second airport but opposes Parandur because construction could destroy vital water bodies and multi-crop agricultural land.
Project and Government Position
The reports say the Chief Minister announced that the Parandur project would be abandoned and that an alternative site would be identified.
Use of acquired land
CPI(M) and Project Critics
Shanmugam says land acquired for the project should be returned to farmers and used only for agriculture, citing the 2013 Land Acquisition Act.
Project and Government Position
The reports do not provide a response from the government on whether or when the acquired land will be returned.
Key facts
- Committee
- The Machendranathan committee was constituted by the previous DMK government to examine the airport project’s feasibility and public concerns.
- CPI(M) demand
- Immediate publication of the committee’s report.
- Airport position
- Shanmugam supports a second airport for Chennai but opposes locating it at Parandur.
- Land demand
- He said acquired land should be returned to farmers if the project is abandoned or unused within the applicable period.
- Government announcement
- Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was reported to have said the Parandur project would be abandoned and an alternative site identified.
- Location
- Parandur is roughly 28 kilometres from Sriperumbudur, near the Chennai-Bengaluru highway.
- Other campaign issues
- The CPI(M) raised concerns about living costs, residential land titles, minority targeting and speaking time in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.
Quotes
K. Shanmugam
CPI(M) Tamil Nadu State Secretary
“Under the 2013 Land Acquisition Act, if acquired land is not utilised for the designated purpose within the stipulated timeframe or if the project is abandoned, it must be returned to the farmers. Multi-crop fertile agricultural lands must not be diverted for alternative non-agricultural projects.”
thehansindia.com
theprint.in
thehansindia.com
“What is the motive behind covering up and not releasing a report that studied the feasibility of a specific project? They (DMK) were in power for two years after the report was submitted, but they never released it.”
thehansindia.com
theprint.in
thehansindia.com
Sources
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