"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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