TELEGRAMS OF PROTEST: So far, the citizens have sent over 5,000 telegrams.


TN CM's mailbox full of telegrams

Sandhya Ravishankar
CNN-IBN



TELEGRAMS OF PROTEST: So far, the citizens have sent over 5,000 telegrams.
Chennai: It's an organised protest, but with a difference.


Residents of Pozhichalur, a suburb of Chennai located just behind the airport, still believe that the pen is mightier than the sword.


They are sending off over 5,000 telegrams to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi to get state government to act.


Their reason: once the Chennai airport expansion plans get underway, their homes will be gone.


"Telegrams convey a sense of urgency and we want the Chief Minister to treat our problem as an urgent one. So we're sending off 5,000 telegrams asking him to consider our plight," says a resident of Anakaputhur, B Kumar.


Expanding the Chennai airport means that close to 1,500 acres of the surrounding areas like Anakaputhur and Pozhichalur will be taken over by the government.


Nearly 60,000 people will be displaced.


"We don't have any money and I still haven't paid back the loan on my house. I'm a retired policeman. At this age how will I look for a new house and relocate?" rues another resident of Pozhichalur


Karunanidhi has promised that expansion of the airport will not be done at the cost of the poor. But locals are clearly not convinced and have decided that when all else fails, re-inventing Gandhi is the best bet.


And Gandhigiri has definitely given them a brand new set of wings.

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[PART OF REPORT]

Protests delaying airport expansion, says Karunanidhi

Special Correspondent

"Suggestions of all sections have to be considered"


CHENNAI: Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi said here on Tuesday that work on the Bangalore and Hyderabad airports was progressing quickly because they did not face organised protests as in Chennai.

He was responding to a question on the delay in the expansion of the Chennai airport and the relatively quick pace at which work on the Bangalore and Hyderabad airport expansion projects were proceeding.

Here, suggestions of all sections had to be taken into consideration before taking a decision, he said.

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Select suitable place for new airport: PMK

Chennai, Mar 12: Continuing its opposition to acquisition of land for the Meenambakkam airport expansion, PMK today that the state government should select a suitable place for setting up of a new green field airport.

PMK founder S Ramadoss told a press meet that the identification of place for a new airport had been hanging fire since 1999.

While the new airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad were nearing completion and were to be commissioned shortly, the land for the new airport for Chennai, which was thought of along with the airports at Bangalore and Hyderabad,was yet to be identified, he said.

"Let the present airport at Meenambakkam near here continue in its present place and another come up at a separate place. Both will have adequate traffic," he said



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Residents line up at the local post office to submit their telegrams to CM Karunanidhi

Chennai residents resort to Gandhigiri
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 09:01:30 pm

A telegram addressed to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, sent by a four-year-old girl, pleads him to spare her family that is among the nearly 5000 families who will have to part with their land to make way for the Chennai airport expansion project.

Residents of many such areas that are now under threat are also following suit. In the next 3 days, over 5000 telegrams will find their way to the Chief Minister's office.

The displacement for airport expansion has been a point of contention between the government and the localities as no adequate compensation has been promised. Now, protests are getting innovative and people believe that a dose of Gandhigiri could do the trick.

"We always believe in Gandhian principles. We've held a lot of marches, fasts and even hoisted black flags to register our protests. But Chief Minister Karunanidhi has not taken note of it till now. So as a last resort we are sending these telegrams. We've already sent 600 and plan to send over 5000 so that the CM responds favourably," says Advocate Dayanidhi.

However, it remains to be seen if the government will turn a blind eye to the Gandhigiri that these people have now resorted to. For 25,000 people, this is one more desperate attempt to save their homes or to at least get a good compensation.


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[PART OF REPORT]

To Ramadoss' allegation that government officials were threatening residents near Chennai airport, Chief Secretary L K Tripathy, who was also present, answered that the Chief Minister had instructed the officials not to acquire residential lands for airport expansion.


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Karunanidhi allays fears over airport expansion project

Special Correspondent

``Decision will be taken only after consulting all parties''



CHENNAI: The State Government will not acquire any land on the outskirts of Chennai, which is largely inhabited by the poor, for the airport expansion project, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said on Sunday.

In his usual question-answer statement, Mr. Karunanidhi made it clear that his Government had not come to any conclusion on the project. Be it expansion or development of the airport, only places, which would not cause much hardship to the poor, would be identified.

As he had repeatedly given assurance on this count, there was no need for anyone to entertain any doubt.

"Even if there is a delay in the airport expansion project, the Government will not take any unilateral decision. We will take the decision only after consulting leaders of all political parties," Mr. Karunanidhi said.

Responding to reports about Member of Parliament R. Prabhu's appeal to the Union Civil Aviation Minister for the modernisation of the Coimbatore, Madurai, Tiruchi and Tuticorin airports and his emphasis on Coimbatore, the Chief Minister said the Union Civil Aviation Ministry should take it up for immediate consideration.

The State Government would extend full cooperation.

Job opportunities


On projects of airport expansion, Mr. Karunanidhi said they would facilitate establishment of industrial units, which, in turn, would generate job opportunities, improve trade and economy.

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சென்னை விமான நிலைய விரிவாக்கத்துக்கு பொழிச்சலூர் அனகாபுத்தூர் பம்மல் பகுதி நிலங்களை அரசு கையகப்படுத்தாது : முதல்வர்

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Airport: All-party meeting in store
CM lays cards on the table

NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 11:

In a quick response to the salvo of PMK strongman Ramadoss that Tamilnadu government should not touch the houses of the poor for the Chennai airport expansion, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today made it categorical that the government would not act unilaterally and assured that leaders of all the political parties would be consulted.

In an official release here, Karunanidhi said that his government would never touch the houses of the poor. 'No one need to worry or fear. Even if the expansion programme gets delayed, the government would not go ahead unilaterally,' he said.

Referring to the remark of the PMK leader that there was logic and reason in the argument of people who say that the government feared touching the skyscrapers of the affluent built in violation of legal provisions, but wants to demolish the humble dwellings of the poor to turn the city into Singara Chennai, the Chief Minister said the government had razed to ground several palatial buildings in deference to court rulings.

He also said the government has not taken any decision on the proposed expansion of the Chennai airport. 'Under no circumstances, the government would acquire the lands of the poor at places like Pozhichalur, Ankaputhur and Pammal for the expansion programme. Only such locations would be chosen which would not affect the poor.' None should entertain baseless apprehensions, he explained.

In the same breath, Karunanidhi said it was essential to build key infrastructure facilities like sea and air ports and rail links to facilitate the economic growth of the State.

In reply to a question he said, 'When a region has such important infrastructure, it helps industrial and economic growth and gives employment opportunities to several lakhs of people.' Karunanidhi also stressed when the region witnesses such economic growth it helps alleviation of poverty and a better standard of life.

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Govt. not to acquire land of poor for airport expansion: TN CM

Chennai, March. 11 (PTI): Assuring that the nearby land of hut-dwellers would not be acquired for the expansion project of the city airport, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today said any decision in this regard would be taken only after consulting leaders of all parties.

Writing in party organ `Murasoli', Karunanidhi said the dwellings of poor people would not be removed even if it meant delay in airport expansion and no one should have any fear on this account.

Referring to PMK founder Ramadoss' statement opposing any move to demolish the huts for airport expansion, Karunanidhi said "his government will not hesitate to demolish unauthorised buildings of rich people. But, no one should entertain baseless apprehensions that the government would remove poor people's dwellings".

Ramadoss had recently alleged that government feared touching the skyscrapers of the affluent, built violating the legal provisions, but wanted to demolish dwellings of the poor.

Karunanidhi also assured that any decision in this regard would be taken after consulting with other political parties.

However, Karunanidhi said industries would flourish only in places with airport, shipping and railway facilities. This would lead to employment generation for lakhs of people and economic prosperity of the region.

He also asked the Centre to take steps to modernise the Coimbatore airport and assured that the State Government was ready to co-operate with it for such projects.

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Deluge of telegrams to oppose airport expansion

Staff Reporter



CHENNAI: A group of residents from Pozhichalur, Cowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal gathered at Pallavaram Telegraph Office on Saturday to send telegrams to the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, seeking his intervention to protect their interests while implementing the airport expansion project.

At least 400 telegrams were sent, which read: "Honourable Chief Minister, Please fulfil your assurance given in the Assembly on 6.12.2006 regarding Chennai Airport expansion in residential areas." . The Chief Minister had told the Assembly that the Government was keen on ensuring that the interest of the poor and downtrodden were protected while implementing major projects.

Street-corner meetings


Various welfare groups at nearby townships, including Pozhichalur, Cowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal, held street-corner meetings on Friday to plan protests against the airport expansion. The meetings had decided to send the telegrams

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"Spell out stand on airport expansion"

Special Correspondent

Ramadoss asks Chief Minister to clarify





CHENNAI: Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) leader S. Ramadoss has demanded that the State Government should spell out its stand clearly on the Chennai airport expansion project.

Though Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi had given an assurance that the Government would not adopt a "brutal approach" in acquiring land for the project, he had also said that the State was negotiating with house owners on providing alternative sites. The Chief Minister had expressed doubts that even if the house owners were ready to accept the offer, those who were spearheading their cause would not agree to it. The Chief Minister's statement had created apprehension among the house owners, Dr. Ramadoss said in a statement here on Saturday.

The PMK leader said the Prime Minister had promised in Parliament that in the acquisition of land for special economic zones, the Government would adopt a humane approach. This was applicable to airport expansion project also. While the PMK was in agreement that the airport in Chennai should be on a par with other international airports, it should not be at the cost of poor people, who had constructed houses from their lifetime savings.

Instead of expanding the existing airport, the Government should think of constructing a new international airport either at Oragadam or Sriperumbudur, which would help improve the State's economy.

In a growing city such as Chennai, preference should be given to housing. Other facilities were only secondary. There was no logic in the State Government's stand that it would displace people living in Chennai to places far away from the city and create modern transport facilities within the city.


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CM office deluged by letters
NT Bureau
Chennai, Mar 10:
The Chief Minister's office at the Secretariat was deluged with more than 300 telegrams from the residents at Pozhichallur, Kowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal today urging him to fulfill his assurance in the State Assembly that there would not be dislocation of people and livelihood during the airport expansion project.

It may be recalled that the Chief Minister M Karunanidhi has stated in the House that residential areas would not be dislocated as part of the expansion project of the Chennai Airport. However, as the steps were being taken at the airport site to commence the expansion project as decided earlier, various welfare groups at nearby townships, including Pozhichalur, Kowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal, held street corner meetings yesterday to draft a plan of action to protest against the airport expansion.

It was decided at the meetings to send telegrams directly to the Chief Minister to remind him of his assurance to the residents that they would not be shifted from their place during a reply at the House proceedings.

The aggrieved residents marched to Pallavaram Post Office and shot off hundreds of telegrams this morning. In the telegram, the Chief Minister was told to fulfill the solemn commitment of safeguarding the interests of residents during the airport expansion which he had made as a statement at the Assembly.

Struggles Committee formed in the neighbourhood to organise protests and demonstrations against the expansion project further said in the telegram that they would continue sending messages to stop the expansion work at the Chennai Airport.

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PMK fires another salvo at DMK Govt.

Chennai, March 10 (PTI): Firing another salvo against Tamil Nadu's DMK government, its ally PMK today said it should not be adamant in going ahead with the expansion of the airport at Meenambakkam here.

PMK founder, S Ramadoss, who has been critical of several State Government decisions, including the setting up of satellite towns in farm lands, said in a statement that a new greenfield airport could be set up either at Oragadam or Sriperumbudur, away from the city.

This should be done instead of expanding the existing airport which, he said, would displace a number of residents in the area who had constructed houses long ago.

"Is it humane to displace them on the plea of economic development. Won't their economy be shattered, if they are displaced?" he asked.

On Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's reported remarks that Chennai will not be a metropolis if the airport is not expanded, he said a Madras High Court judge had said while delivering a verdict that Chennai was no more a city, but hell.

Expressing the hope that Karunanidhi will be firm on his assurances about handling the issue in a humane manner, Ramadoss said those who had built houses by investing their small savings should not be put to hardship.

Hundreds of residents in Ankaputhur and surrounding areas near Meenambakkam, who had received notices that their land would be acquired for expanding the airport, had sent telegrams to the Chief Minister to seek his intervention.

Over 14,000 houses and a number of places of worship will be demolished if the government goes ahead with the expansion plan and this will result in 1.5 lakh people being displaced, they said.

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Pozhichalur residents keep their fingers crossed
Friday March 9 2007 10:14 IST

CHENNAI: The joint struggle by residents of suburban Pozhichalur and surrounding areas to save their houses and business establishments from being razed to pave way for the expansion of the Chennai airport entered its second year on Thursday.

Over the past year, the residents have been opposing the proposed project since it would displace thousands of persons spread across an area of 583 hectares including the colonies of Anakaputhur, Cowl Bazaar and Pozhichalur. For them, it has been a struggle marred by confusion over a lack of transparency on part of the government machinery and chaos over the fears of losing their homes.

Though the State Government is yet to officially announce on the localities which will come within the ‘expansion zone’ the residents fear that it would displace over 25,000 persons and also lead to the demolition of about 4,300 buildings including schools and places of worship.

Repeated requests to state, street-corner protest meetings by the CPM and CPI and angry outbursts against the state among other things have been a common affair in this silent suburb, mostly inhabited by members of middle-income groups and retired persons.

PROTESTS ALL THE WAY: The protests, after a point of time became more poignant and the entire Pozhichalur painted itself black, with flags hoisted all around, especially on the top floors.

ALTERNATIVES PROPOSED: Mean while, the residents also put forth alternatives, such as setting up greenfield airport. One resident even prepared plans for such an airport with the help of satellite images.

SUPPORT FROM ALL CORNERS: Cutting across party lines, the issue has earned the support of many parties. The latest to join the list is the PMK with its founder Ramadoss recently participating in a public meeting and assuring the residents of the party’s support in their ongoing struggle. The BJP and AIADMK have also pledged their support.

Besides, the Traders’ Association president T Vellaiyan and Narmada Bachao Andolan leader Medha Patkar had also held protest meetings on the issue.

WHAT THE STATE SAYS: The ruling DMK, in whose term the issue has garnered speed, is firm on the expansion, but has not come out with clear-cut and straight answers.

However, there have been occasional hints by those in power on the issue. In fact, last Saturday, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi had stressed that the expansion augured well for the economic development of the state considering which “residents should cooperate”.

His response to the greenfield concept hinted that he was not for it when he said, “The present airport is already far, how farther can the new one be situated,” possibly not endorsing the idea of having an airport outside Chennai. However, he has assured that the state will not take a hasty decision and “deal the issue in a humanitarian way”.

In fact, as a latest development, Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla who took over recently, has said that the issue will come to a finality soon. “We must get to some finality on the issue,” of land acquisition for its expansion, including construction of another runway.

“It should not go beyond two months,” he has said. The residents will be keeping their fingers crossed, till the ministry comes out with a final plan.

Decision soon on modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports

Special Correspondent

It may take two years to build a second runway at Chennai airport

NEW DELHI: As the modernisation process of Delhi and Mumbai airports gathers steam, the Civil Aviation Ministry is likely to take a decision in respect of restructuring of Chennai and Kolkata airports within the next two months.

While the West Bengal Government has made it clear that it will entrust the job to the public sector Airports Authority of India (AAI) for modernisation of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, the Tamil Nadu Government has indicated to the Civil Aviation Ministry that it would make the land available for constructing the second runway at the existing airport in Chennai.

"In respect of Kolkata airport we will take about a month to decide and for Chennai airport we may take about two months for taking a decision," Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla told reporters here on Monday.

He said the Ministry had received a communication from the Tamil Nadu Government but it was yet to be examined in detail.

"Indications are that the land for the second runway at the existing airport will be made available and we would also prefer to opt for this route instead of going for a wholly new Greenfield airport in Chennai which will render the existing one useless," he said.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel has held discussions on modernisation of Chennai airport with the Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran and the Tamil Nadu Government too has expressed its keen desire to get the project started soon as the handling capacity of the existing airport is coming under strain every year.

During the current year, the passenger handling capacity of Chennai airport is likely to be around 7.55 million and increase to 8.9 million by 2009-10. Even if a decision is taken within a month, it may take about two years for the second runway to be built and made operational.

For the Kolkata airport, Mr. Chawla said, the AAI has submitted its plan and the total cost of modernisation would be around Rs. 2,000 crores. During the tenure of the 11th five-year plan beginning this year, the AAI would spend about Rs. 900 crores and another Rs. 1,100 crores after that period.

He said that for the time being the existing airport in Kolkata would continue to serve the air travelers but the West Bengal Government was open to adopting the private-public-partnership route as in case of Delhi and Mumbai airports for constructing a second all-new airport in the city.

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[PART OF REPORT ]


Meanwhile, decks are cleared for the long-awaited modernization of the Chennai airport with a way found out of the land acquisition problem. Chawla said the issue would be sorted out in about two months.

The modernization of Chennai airport — like in Delhi and Mumbai — will be in the Public-Private-Partnership format with 51% Indian equity. The plan for Chennai had run into rough weather with widespread protests over land acquisition in the area around the airport. Some 5000 homes and 50,000 people living behind the existing Chennai airport would have to be rehabilitated for the modernisation plan. The Ministry has finally found the way out, with alternative land identified.


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AIRPORT REVAMP: Aviation Minister will take two months to decide on the modernisation of Chennai airport.


Kolkata, Chennai airport revamp soon

ibnlive.com


New Delhi: According to a Civil Aviation Ministry official, a decision on the modernisation of Kolkata airport would be taken within a month and Chennai in two months.



"We have now reached a stage where we are ready to take a decision. It will not be more than a month," PTI quoted new Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla as saying.


Talking about the Chennai airport he said, "We must get to some finality on the issue of land acquisition for its expansion, including construction of another runway. It should not go beyond two months."

However, on Kolkata airport he said that the Airports Authority of India would take up the project worth about Rs 2,000 crore. While 40 per cent of it would be taken up in the 11th Plan, the remaining part would be carried out in the 12th Plan.


“While the AAI could implement the entire project out if its internal accruals, it could also depend on market borrowings on the basis of its capital accumulation worth over Rs 4,000 crore,” Chawla said.


He also announced that a PPP (public-private partnership) cell would be opened in the Ministry to vigorously pursue the development of the non-aeronautical side of these non-metro airports.


When asked about the budget proposal to levy three per cent customs duty on imported aircraft, Chawla said besides customs duty, another 16 per cent is levied as countervailing duty, three per cent as education cess and another three per cent as special duty.


"We would propose to the Finance Ministry that the 16 per cent countervailing duty should be removed on aircraft, which are not produced domestically. The countervailing duty is meant to protect domestic producers and that is not applicable in case of aircraft," PTI quoted Chawla as saying.


On withholding tax on leased aircraft and aircraft engines, which would become applicable from April one, he said all airlines, who wanted to lease planes have been advised to sign their lease deeds before this period.

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[PART OF REPORT]

Replying to a query on the proposal on expanding the Chennai airport, he made it clear that the State Government would not blindly rush through any decision on the project. "We will adopt an affectionate and sympathetic approach in making alternative arrangements," he said.

Several issues had been raised in connection with the airport expansion project, Mr. Karunanidhi said. The Government had been holding talks to provide alternative sites for people living in huts and some middle class residents of the site selected for the project. "It is doubtful if those who have raised the issue will accept [the Government's offer] even if these residents accept it," he added.

He appealed to all sections to cooperate with the Government. No problem would arise if it was acknowledged that the project had to be taken up in public interest and that air service was important for enhancing the growth of Chennai and the entire State, he said. To another query, he said the expansion project could not be taken up on a site far off from the city. He allayed apprehensions that the displaced people would not get market price for the land acquired for the project.



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Airport expansion needs cooperation :


Chennai,Mar 3: In the wake of protests by people living around Chennai airport against plans to acquire their land for airport expansion, Chief Minister M Karunanidhi today sought the co-operation of all sections for the project and said it was being done to promote economic growth.

"The existing airport itself is far away from the city and the second airport at a longer distance will not be viable," he told reporters here.
People living in the surrounding villages need not fear that their land would be taken at a lower price than the market rate, he said adding the government would consider all aspects of the expansion plan and would not take a hasty decision.

Karunanidhi,who inspected the progress of works in the IT corridor (a 20 km stretch comprising IT companies near the city),said out of the Rs 205 crore allocated for the project,only rs five crore was spent during the AIADMK period. After the DMK government took over in May last, 20 per cent of the works had been completed till now and road laying for the 20 km stretch would be over by August.

Within three years,the IT corridor rpt corridor would provide jobs to three lakh employees and attract the attention of the world.
To a question, he said government policy for factories set up in IT parks were the same and it would not differ from urban to rural places. (Our Correspondent)

Published: Saturday, March 03, 2007

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