Construct airport in Parandur after prior approval from locals: OPS

CHENNAI: AIADMK's ousted leader and former chief minister O Panneerselvam on Thursday urged the DMK government to construct Chennai's second airport at Parandur only after getting prior approval from the local people residing there.

Panneerselvam said due to the airport proposal people living in more than 15 villages at Parandur are in the fear of losing their houses and lands. "Similarly, the airport proposal would also affect students studying there," he said adding that worship places, lakes, and ponds will also be affected besides the environment".

The former chief minister claimed that though the public hearings about the construction of the airport were conducted, the concerned ministers attended the gathering late, which made many of them boycott the meeting.

"It looks like the public hearing was conducted for a namesake and it also clearly shows that the government has planned to start the construction works of the airport", he said.

He said though the proposal of constructing a second airport was for the development of the economy and industries, the livelihood of the people is more important. "The AIADMK will not accept the economy development at the cost of farmers' loss," he said as he pointed out that all the welfare measures should benefit the people and not affect them.

Panneerselvam said that the government must call the people and fulfil all their requirements before going ahead to implement the project.

"The Chief Minister should immediately intervene into the issue to take measures for consulting the people and get their proper approval before constructing the airport," he said.