Joyous Celebrations at Parandur, Eganapuram Villages
Finally, the Chief Minister announced the dropping of the project leading to grand celebrations in the villages of Parandur and Eganapuram.
Chennai:Villagers of Parandur and Eganapuram on Monday celebrated the announcement of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay about dropping the airport project. They gathered on the streets, shouting slogans, hailing the Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) leader, distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
The government planned to acquire lands in 13 villages for the 5,300 acre airport project announced in 2022. The villagers strongly opposed the project, saying it would affect water bodies and agricultural lands, besides wiping out their places from the map.
The protests went on for 1,100 days and the grama sabha passed resolutions against the project 16 times.
However, the Kanchipuram district revenue officials started acquiring lands and handed them over to Tidco for the project. The government allocated alternative sites for construction of houses for those losing their lands.
The protests of villagers caught the attention of TVK leader Vijay who carried out his first political protest in Parandur in support of the villagers. He also promised to cancel the project if he came to power.
The TVK won 108 seats, including Kanchipuram, in which Parandur and Eganapuram villages are located, and Vijay became the Chief Minister, raising a big question on the continuation of the Parandur project and the officials stopped the work.
Finally, the Chief Minister announced the dropping of the project leading to grand celebrations in the villages of Parandur and Eganapuram.
They gathered on the streets and held meetings thanking the Chief Minister, besides celebrating the announcement distributing sweets and bursting crackers.
