CHENNAI: CPM state secretary P Shanmugam on Wednesday urged the Tamil Nadu government to return to farmers the land acquired for the proposed Parandur airport, after the government indicated that the acquired land could be used for alternative industrial projects.

In a statement, Shanmugam said MLAs had raised questions in the Assembly on Wednesday about the government's plans for the land acquired for the airport. Responding to them, the Industries Minister had said the land would be used for alternative industrial projects.

Shanmugam said under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, land acquired for a specific project should be returned to the original landowners if it was not used within five years or if the project was abandoned.

"The land cannot be diverted for another project. Therefore, the Tamil Nadu government should not act in violation of the law," he said.

He urged the government to take appropriate steps to return the acquired land to the farmers.