Farmers Seek Repossession of Parandur Greenfield Airport Site

The CPI(M) in Tamil Nadu has joined farmers in demanding that the state hand back the land earmarked for the Parandur greenfield airport. State secretary P. Shanamugam told the assembly that the project's cancellation leaves no legal basis for retaining the acquired parcels.

Lawmakers questioned the government on its proposal to allocate the land for other industrial projects. While the industry minister suggested alternative uses, Shanamugam cited the Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, which requires returning land to its original owners if the intended project is not pursued within five years.

He warned that any attempt to shift the land to unrelated industrial development would contravene the law. The affected villages have long opposed the airport, citing risks to fertile agricultural land, homes, water sources, and the local environment.

Shanamugam appealed to the administration to withdraw any industrial proposals for the site and to initiate an immediate process to restore the land to the farmers, emphasizing both legal compliance and ethical responsibility.