Cong Welcomes Parandur Decision, Calls for Time-Bound Decision on Alternative Site

Chennai:The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) has welcomed the cancellation of the proposed Parandur greenfield airport, citing technical concerns, prolonged farmer protests and the site’s impact on land and water bodies. The party urged the government to identify and approve an alternative site through a transparent, time-bound process.

In a statement, TNCC president Manickam Tagore said the Airports Authority of India’s feasibility report submitted in March 2022 had already highlighted major concerns about Parandur.

The proposed site was surrounded by water bodies, with more than a quarter of the area covered by irrigation tanks and a 201-hectare, man-made lake located just 1.4 km from its boundary.

According to this, the same technical concerns about low-lying and waterlogged land were cited by the government while cancelling the project in 2026. It questioned why these findings remained unaddressed for nearly three years.

He also pointed out that Parandur compared poorly with Pannur on several parameters. Parandur was around 62 km from Chennai, against 27.6 km for Pannur, and was expected to displace about 1,005 families, compared to around 250 at Pannur. It also required nearly twice the earthwork for filling and grading.

The TNCC president said farmers of Ekanapuram and neighbouring villages had sustained their agitation for more than 1,000 days, defending their land, water resources and livelihoods. The statement maintained that the cancellation vindicated their concerns.

The party also criticised the legal process used for land acquisition, claiming the Tamil Nadu Land Consolidation for Special Projects Act, 2023, was passed through a voice vote without adequate discussion and lacked a genuine consent mechanism. It said environmental clearances, a full environment impact assessment and the State Wetland Authority’s NOC were pending while acquisition proceeded.

However, Tagore stressed that the cancellation should not delay Chennai’s need for additional aviation capacity. He demanded a clear outer deadline for identifying and obtaining approvals for an alternative airport site, along with a proper social impact assessment and genuine community consultation.

He also sought clarity within three months on land already acquired in Nelvoy, Nagapattu, Thandalam, Podavur, Valathur and Akkammapuram, immediate release of the remaining 30 per cent compensation and restoration of basic civic infrastructure.

The TNCC said Chennai needs greater aviation capacity, but development should not come at the cost of communities’ land, water, livelihoods and dignity without genuine consent.