Partner- Poovulagin Nanbargal
Decision Makers:
Tamil Nadu government
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO)
Demands:
Expand/Scale up operations of the current Chennai International airport to avoid ecological destruction
Consider an alternative site, which is not an ecologically sensitive zone, if need be, for the construction of a second airport
Introduction
The Tamil Nadu government has received site clearance from the central government for the construction of Chennai’s second airport, in Parandur, approximately 70 kms away from the city. The location chosen for the construction is an ecologically important area that has 10 lakes, 2 streams, 13 villages, 3500 acres of agricultural land , numerous plant species and thousands of cattle. Over 36,000 trees are slated to be felled for the project. For this reason, residents of the 13 villages around Parandur have been opposing the project for over two years.
Why?
The Greenfield airport is slated to be constructed on 2,172.73 hectares of land, at a cost of Rs 32,704 crores in 2026. The land in question houses 13 villages spread across Kancheepuram and Sriperumbudur taluks (district sub-divisions).
More than 47% of the land which will be acquired is presently being used for agricultural purposes and over 26% of the land has water bodies like lakes and ponds, as per a pre-feasibility report prepared by TIDCO. Environmentalists have warned of potential flooding, loss of agricultural produce and natural habitat, if the airport is constructed. Many have suggested looking for alternate locations for the proposed airport.
The proposed airport will also lead to unintended urbanisation within the surrounding areas. The impact will be felt within a radius of 50-75 kms! There are tens of thousands of water bodies and agricultural lands in this periphery area exclusive of the water bodies around the project site, which may be destroyed because of rapid urbanisation if the project proceeds.
There is also a dire need to use the existing Meenambakkam airport in Chennai to its optimum capacity. In 2023, the airport used only one runway largely, despite having a second one, according to an RTI response by the Airports Authority of India.
Tamil Nadu has many unused air strips located in areas like Arakkonam, Vellore, and Villupuram. And there are existing domestic airports in Madurai, Trichy and Salem which could be used as sites for the new international airport, according to a report by Poovulagin Nanbargal, a Tamil Nadu-based environmental protection organisation.
The plans for expansion of the existing Chennai Meenambakkam airport was dropped, stating that the land cost is high around that area (INR 10,500 crores for 306 acres), however a new metro proposed for the Parandur airport costs INR 10,000 crores alone.
The new airport is believed to help ease the burden of cargo and passenger traffic on the existing airport and is key to Tamil Nadu’s economic development. TIDCO has been appointed as the nodal agency for its development. The existing Chennai International airport reportedly lacks updated facilities and infrastructure to handle large planes.
We, at Jhatkaa.org are not opposing the construction of an airport, but instead, urging the authorities to consider alternatives! We aim to preserve Tamil Nadu’s ecology and the livelihoods of families that will be displaced with the construction of the airport in its present selected location.
Sources:
Partner- Poovulagin Nanbargal
Decision Makers:
Tamil Nadu government
Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO)
Demands:
Expand/Scale up operations of the current Chennai International airport to avoid ecological destruction
Consider an alternative site, which is not an ecologically sensitive zone, if need be, for the construction of a second airport
Introduction
The Tamil Nadu government has received site clearance from the central government for the construction of Chennai’s second airport, in Parandur, approximately 70 kms away from the city. The location chosen for the construction is an ecologically important area that has 10 lakes, 2 streams, 13 villages, 3500 acres of agricultural land , numerous plant species and thousands of cattle. Over 36,000 trees are slated to be felled for the project. For this reason, residents of the 13 villages around Parandur have been opposing the project for over two years.
Why?
The Greenfield airport is slated to be constructed on 2,172.73 hectares of land, at a cost of Rs 32,704 crores in 2026. The land in question houses 13 villages spread across Kancheepuram and Sriperumbudur taluks (district sub-divisions).
More than 47% of the land which will be acquired is presently being used for agricultural purposes and over 26% of the land has water bodies like lakes and ponds, as per a pre-feasibility report prepared by TIDCO. Environmentalists have warned of potential flooding, loss of agricultural produce and natural habitat, if the airport is constructed. Many have suggested looking for alternate locations for the proposed airport.
The proposed airport will also lead to unintended urbanisation within the surrounding areas. The impact will be felt within a radius of 50-75 kms! There are tens of thousands of water bodies and agricultural lands in this periphery area exclusive of the water bodies around the project site, which may be destroyed because of rapid urbanisation if the project proceeds.
There is also a dire need to use the existing Meenambakkam airport in Chennai to its optimum capacity. In 2023, the airport used only one runway largely, despite having a second one, according to an RTI response by the Airports Authority of India.
Tamil Nadu has many unused air strips located in areas like Arakkonam, Vellore, and Villupuram. And there are existing domestic airports in Madurai, Trichy and Salem which could be used as sites for the new international airport, according to a report by Poovulagin Nanbargal, a Tamil Nadu-based environmental protection organisation.
The plans for expansion of the existing Chennai Meenambakkam airport was dropped, stating that the land cost is high around that area (INR 10,500 crores for 306 acres), however a new metro proposed for the Parandur airport costs INR 10,000 crores alone.
The new airport is believed to help ease the burden of cargo and passenger traffic on the existing airport and is key to Tamil Nadu’s economic development. TIDCO has been appointed as the nodal agency for its development. The existing Chennai International airport reportedly lacks updated facilities and infrastructure to handle large planes.
We, at Jhatkaa.org are not opposing the construction of an airport, but instead, urging the authorities to consider alternatives! We aim to preserve Tamil Nadu’s ecology and the livelihoods of families that will be displaced with the construction of the airport in its present selected location.
Sources: