Chennai:
A now-scrapped plan to make a brand new airport close to Chennai has develop into the most recent flashpoint between Tamil Nadu’s ruling TVK and the Opposition DMK that misplaced the election simply months in the past.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and his occasion, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), have at all times been on the aspect of protesters who objected to the airport plan citing environmental considerations and hazard to multi-crop agricultural lands in Parandur, some 70 km from the state capital.
Now, Vijay has shelved the mission. He had campaigned onerous towards the mission earlier than the election that finally ejected the DMK from energy. Vijay’s newest resolution has closed this chapter.
“We’re dropping Parandur airport. I stand agency with the protesters towards the proposed airport,” Vijay stated.
Vijay recalled his transfer to oppose the mission from way back to October 2024 when, throughout a gathering in Vikravandi, he additionally agreed airports are wanted for industrial growth however they can’t be constructed at the price of farmers’ welfare.
“To satisfy the promise I made to the those that day… the steps taken to ascertain a brand new airport in Parandur shall be deserted by this authorities,” Vijay stated.
The Civil Aviation Ministry gave in-principle permission in April 2025 to construct the airport in Parandur, which comes below Kancheepuram district.
However the showdown has not ended with the DMK led by former chief minister MK Stalin sending a dare to Vijay to “open our recordsdata” as a substitute of insinuating suspicion over the proposed airport mission which was initiated in the course of the DMK’s tenure.
“If the chief minister does not open our recordsdata, we’ll transfer a privilege movement towards him within the meeting,” DMK chief Duraimurugan advised reporters at the moment. “We’re giving him permission to open it. If he does not try this in a single week, the Opposition will think about transferring a privilege movement to point out the chief minister gave incorrect info within the meeting,” he stated.
Simply after coming to energy after an enormous win, the Vijay authorities had already stated it could evaluation the positioning earmarked for the proposed greenfield airport. In June, TVK chief CTR Nirmal Kumar had introduced a complete evaluation of the proposed mission had been happening to seek out different areas. This may assist defend native waterbodies and fertile lands, he had stated.
