18-Nov-2007
They allege that the present proposal to acquire land is unilateral
TAMBARAM: A large number of residents of Gerugambakkam and adjoining villages near Porur met on Saturday, urging the State government and Airports Authority of India to identify and acquire vacant land for modernisation and expansion of the Chennai Airport land for developing a greenfield airport.
Residents of Gerugambakkam, Manapakkam, Thaarapakkam, Kolapakkam and Kovur villages, that are constituent villages of the Kunrathur Panchayat Union of Kancheepuram district, met at E.V.P. Town in Gerugambakkam.
They told reporters that the State government’s proposal to acquire more than 1,000 acres for the proposed expansion and modernisation of the airport came as a rude shock to them. Though the Centre had made it clear that a humane approach should be adopted during land acquisition for development works, the present proposal of the State government was unilateral, speakers at the meeting said.
Referring to a note issued by the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority in June 2006, K. Balesh, a resident, said it was specifically mentioned that land coming under certain survey numbers in Gerugambakkam and Thaarapakkam villages were classified under ‘Primary Residential Use Zone and it is not affected by the proposed International Airport in Kancheepuram district’.
But the same villages were now proposed to be acquired for the airport project.
“The statements of the various State government departments are contradictory,” said G. Mohan, another resident.
Not less than 1,000 families would be affected if land in these places were acquired for the project, they said.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Hey is it expansion at the cost of lesser mortals?
There are 6-7 5 star hotels near meenambakkam. Will the government pay heed to the middle clas cries? If they build a green field airport at Sriperumbudur, why the need for expansion at meenambakkam? I see sinister design as a new int'l airport would mean reduction of income for the 5 star hotels! Are the hotels by proxy pushing the TN Govt for meenambakkam expansion?
Moreover one question remains. Anyway the airport requires 4000+acres. Present airport is approx 1200 acres and a further 1070 acres in addition will only make it 2270 acres! Will it suffice? Or will the TN govt ask for more land in the next adjoining areas after this expansion?
Does it sound like the familiar camel in the tent story?
Will then the now happier pozhichalur and cowl bazar residents have any cause for cheer?
The present airport expansion will not only cause inundation in the adjoining areas as recently seen in the past 3-4 days of incessant rain in the areas,the new runway will become weak and will it be ready to receive the boeing 787 and Airbus 380 in fuure? i think the plan is extremly shortsighted, and dangerous and anti-people.
Please common man think.
Only a greenfield airort at Sriperumbudur for which land has already been acquired will help. No use troubling the middle class. Let more international 5 star hotels come near Sriperumbudur.
Please TN govt develop Sriperumbudur. Chennai is aready choked. Please dont add more carbon by increasing air traffic in Meenambakkam.
Post a Comment