The Tamil Nadu government has issued a land acquisition notice for 152.95 acres in Eganapuram village, located in Kancheepuram district, the epicenter of protests against the proposed Parandur greenfield airport. The notice, which has angered residents, states that the land, primarily wetlands with trees, spans across 583 survey numbers and includes details of the land size and owners. Landowners have been given 30 days to raise objections or requests. This land acquisition is part of a broader plan for acquiring land in several villages surrounding the proposed airport site, including Edaiyarpakkam, Nelvoy, Valathur, Paduvur, Madapuram, Parandur, and Akkammapuram.
Villagers in Eganapuram claim that government officials only visited other villages before issuing the notices, and that they were completely bypassed. They allege that while revenue records were available for the village, government officials did not consult with the local community before issuing the notice. “Due to protests, nobody visited this village. However, with revenue records available, the government has come up with a land acquisition notice for Eganapuram. They have identified 400 acres in Eganapuram alone, and the notice has been issued for 153 acres,” said Subramanian, a leader of the protests.
The proposed Parandur greenfield airport, estimated to cost ₹20,000 crore, will be built on 4,791.29 acres and is expected to become operational by 2030. Since the government declared Parandur as the site for Chennai’s second airport, residents of surrounding villages have vehemently opposed the project, fearing it will severely impact their livelihoods.
On Wednesday, villagers gathered in Eganapuram for the 764th consecutive day to protest the land acquisition. Following the issuance of the notice, police were deployed in the village to monitor the protests. Villagers chanted slogans against the government and expressed their frustration over being ignored. In June, they had vowed to seek asylum in Andhra Pradesh if the government continued to disregard their concerns.
The ongoing protests against the Parandur airport project highlight the deep-seated anxieties and concerns of local communities regarding large-scale development projects. The government’s failure to engage with residents and address their concerns has fueled resentment and escalated the conflict. It remains to be seen how the government will respond to the escalating protests and whether it will prioritize the voices of the affected communities in its decision-making process.
