1 week ago
Congress Welcomes Parandur Airport Cancellation, Seeks Alternative Site Deadline
The proposed airport at Parandur has been cancelled.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee said the location had too much wet and low-lying land.
It also said many lakes and irrigation tanks could be affected.
Farmers had protested against the airport for more than 1,000 days.
The party said the cancellation supported the farmers’ concerns.
However, it said Chennai still needs more airport capacity.
It wants the government to choose another location quickly and openly.
It also wants affected people to receive their remaining compensation and basic services to be restored.
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee welcomed the cancellation of the proposed Parandur greenfield airport in 2026.
It said technical concerns, farmer protests, land displacement and impacts on water bodies had undermined the project.
The party cited an Airports Authority of India feasibility report from March 2022 that reportedly raised concerns about the site.
Parandur was about 62 kilometres from Chennai and expected to displace around 1,005 families, compared with 27.6 kilometres and 250 families at Pannur.
The party urged a time-bound alternative-site decision, social impact assessment, community consultation and clarity on acquired land and compensation.
- Who
- The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, led by president Manickam Tagore, commented on the project.
- What
- The committee welcomed the cancellation of the proposed Parandur greenfield airport and sought a time-bound decision on an alternative site.
- Where
- The cancelled project was proposed at Parandur near Chennai, while Pannur was cited as a comparison site.
- When
- The Airports Authority of India submitted a feasibility report in March 2022; the project was cancelled in 2026; farmers had protested for more than 1,000 days.
- Why
- The committee cited technical concerns, water bodies, land and livelihood impacts, prolonged farmer protests and unresolved environmental and consent issues.
Project Critics
Capacity Advocates
Whether Parandur was suitable
Project Critics
The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee said the site was low-lying and waterlogged, affected by irrigation tanks and other water bodies, and would harm land, livelihoods and communities.
Capacity Advocates
The project’s stated development rationale was the need for Chennai to obtain greater aviation capacity, although the article does not provide a direct response from project proponents to the criticisms.
Timing after cancellation
Project Critics
The committee argued that the alternative site should be selected and approved through a transparent, time-bound process with social impact assessment and genuine community consultation.
Capacity Advocates
The committee also stressed that cancelling Parandur should not delay Chennai’s need for additional aviation capacity.
Land acquisition process
Project Critics
The committee criticised the Tamil Nadu Land Consolidation for Special Projects Act, 2023, and said acquisition proceeded while key environmental clearances and consent-related processes remained pending.
Capacity Advocates
The article does not include a government response defending the acquisition process or addressing the committee’s legal claims.
Key facts
- Feasibility report
- The Airports Authority of India submitted its report in March 2022.
- Parandur distance
- The proposed site was about 62 kilometres from Chennai.
- Pannur distance
- Pannur was described as about 27.6 kilometres from Chennai.
- Estimated displacement
- Parandur was expected to affect about 1,005 families, compared with around 250 at Pannur.
- Water body
- A 201-hectare man-made lake was located about 1.4 kilometres from the proposed Parandur site.
- Farmer protests
- Farmers from Ekanapuram and neighbouring villages had protested for more than 1,000 days.
- Compensation request
- The committee sought immediate release of the remaining 30 per cent compensation.
Sources
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