Assembly Debates Scrapping of Parandur Airport for Second Day

The decision to scrap the proposed greenfield airport project at Parandur triggered heated exchanges for the second consecutive day both inside the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly and outside at the Secretariat in Chennai.

Members of the Parandur airport protest committee called on Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the Secretariat to express their gratitude for cancelling the project. Speaking to reporters outside the Secretariat, the head of the protest committee, Subramanian, alleged that DMK leaders had invested heavily in local land expecting major profits once the airport was built, and noted that while parties including the AIADMK welcomed the decision to seek an alternative site, the DMK continued to oppose the cancellation.

Inside the Assembly, the issue sparked sharp discussions during the debate on demands for grants for industries and other departments. DMK MLA S Austin argued that dropping the project would adversely impact industrial growth in Tamil Nadu, a stance supported by DMK member and former Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu.

Addressing a query from AIADMK general secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami regarding the status of 1,700 acres of land already acquired over the last four years, State Industries Minister S Keerthana stated that the acquired land would be utilized for other development projects.

Outside the Assembly, Subramanian contested previous claims by Thennarasu that 90 percent of the required land had been acquired, pointing out that 1,700 acres represents only a fraction of the 5,740 acres originally earmarked for acquisition. He highlighted that the project's cancellation protected 2,500 acres of fertile wetland (Nanjai), 1,300 acres of dry land (Punjai), and numerous water bodies, including 12 lakes, 17 ponds, and the 1,100-year-old Kamban Canal that feeds Chembarambakkam Lake.

Residents in the region celebrated the announcement, with locals in Eganapuram proposing to name a main road after Chief Minister Vijay. Meanwhile, inside the House, Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna claimed the decision averted a major land scam, prompting further counter-questions from Thennarasu regarding the rationale behind shifting the project to an alternative location.