PMK opposes land acquisition plan



PLEDGING SUPPORT: PMK leader S. Ramadoss (left) listens to a resident of Pozhichalur, a southern suburb of Chennai on Friday.

CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi leader S. Ramadoss on Friday pledged his support to the residents of Pozhichalur, Pammal, Anakaputhur and Gowl Bazaar areas, who are protesting against the land acquisition scheme for expanding the Chennai airport.

His party would neither allow displacement of the people nor acquisition of land belonging to them, he told the people in the suburban colony.

Viable solution


He said a new greenfield airport outside the city limits with elevated road connectivity was a viable solution.

Such an airport could be built on several hundred acres of vacant land, classified as `poramboke,' available in the Oragadam and Sriperumbudur areas.

Instead of handing over the project to private players, the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Airports Authority of India should build the new airport themselves. Stating that Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi would never take a decision that would harm the interests of the people, he blamed officials for providing false information and preparing wrong plans. "Be assured... we will not allow airport expansion in your areas," the PMK leader told the gathering.

His party would join their struggle if any "wrong decisions" were taken.

The residents were not against expansion of the airport, but only against the manner in which land was proposed to be acquired.

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