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The Tamil Nadu government will explore using land acquired for the now-scrapped Parandur greenfield airport project for alternative industrial projects, Industries Minister S Keerthana told the Assembly on Tuesday, August 25.
Speaking during the debate on the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce, Keerthana said the government would explore industrial projects that do not affect the environment or the livelihoods of people in the region. Such projects would help create employment opportunities and promote economic growth in Parandur, she said.
Her statement came a day after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay announced in the Assembly that the proposed Parandur airport project would be scrapped.
Keerthana said the acquired land could be used for other public purposes under Clause 99 of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which permits a change in land-use purpose in case of unforeseen circumstances.
Energy Resources and Law Minister CTR Nirmal Kumar said the government had acquired 1,802 acres for the proposed airport, which was 48% of the total land required, and the land could be considered for other public purposes.
The airport project required 5,846 acres, of which 3,274 acres was patta land and 1,972 acres was government land, Nirmal Kumar said. He rejected claims that 90% of the required land had already been acquired.
Of the 1,972 acres classified as government land, 1,558 acres comprised waterbodies, he added.
Nirmal Kumar said no land had been acquired in Ekanapuram, Karai, Thandalam and Siruvalur, where residents had opposed the project. The project had also not received environmental clearance, he added.
‘Chennai airport be expanded’
The government has said it will identify a new site for the second airport while expanding the existing Chennai airport at Meenambakkam.
Nirmal Kumar said the existing airport can currently handle 30 million passengers annually. Its capacity will increase to 35 million after the ongoing construction of Terminal 3 is completed and to 55 million once the proposed Terminal 5 becomes operational.
Keerthana questioned why the previous government had not taken steps to expand the existing airport despite the Union government’s approval and the fact that the expansion would not require the eviction of people.
Public Works Department Minister Aadhav Arjuna said the government would prioritise the interests of farmers.
“If the choice is between the Parandur airport and the interests of farmers, Chief Minister Vijay will always stand with the farmers,” he said.
Arjuna said Vijay's first public outreach had been to the farmers of Parandur. He also alleged that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) government had acted against farmers who opposed the SIPCOT expansion project in Tiruvannamalai and invoked the Goondas Act against them.
DMK defends Parandur selection
The DMK defended the earlier decision to select Parandur as the site for the second airport.
Former Industries Minister and DMK MLA Thangam Thennarasu said several locations had been examined before Parandur was finalised. Sholinganallur, Padalam and Pannur were among the locations considered, he said.
Pannur and Parandur were eventually shortlisted, and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) accepted Parandur based on technical feasibility after discussions with the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Thennarasu said. He also warned that a new airport location could face similar challenges.
Real estate allegations
The debate turned heated after Nirmal Kumar alleged that real estate interests had benefitted from the Parandur airport proposal. "Those who are deeply concerned about this issue are only concerned for G Square mapillai (son-in-law) or those who invested black money to buy lands," Nirmal said. G Square is a real estate company whose owner Bala Ramajayam is said to have close ties with MK Stalin’s son-in-law Sabareesan.
Thennarasu objected to the remarks and questioned, “If you say our concerns are for G Square mapillai, should I ask for which lottery marumagan (son-in-law) the new second airport project has been initiated for?" Thennarasu asked, referring to Aadhav Arjun, the son-in-law of Santiago Martin, whose company deals in lotteries.
Aadhav Arjuna alleged that members of a particular political party had purchased land around Parandur while the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the airport was being prepared.
He termed the entire Parandur project a “real estate scam” and called for an investigation. He also alleged that the DMK was falsely portraying the scrapping of the Parandur airport as a decision that would bring Tamil Nadu's industrial growth to a standstill.