Protest against Parandur airport project touches 1,000th day

The relentless protest by the farmers and villagers against the Parandur airport project continues and will enter the 1,000thday on Sunday. As soon as the State government decided to build the second airport for Chennai at Parandur, it was known that lands in as many as 13 villages would be taken over for the project and nearly 1,000 families would be displaced.

Local villagers and farmers have been rejecting this project and protesting since 2022.

S.D. Kathiresan, one of the residents of Ekanapuram, who will be affected by the project, said, “Having protested for 1,000 days, we will not yield at any cost. We will continue this battle and not let our lands and houses be taken over for this project that will destroy the environment. People here haven’t been able to lead a normal life for the last 1,000 days and live under fear.”

G. Sundarrajan of Poovulagin Nanbargal said that the villagers have been protesting against this project not just for themselves, but for the cause of protecting the environment in other districts including Chennai, Kancheepuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur.

“From a climate perspective, this protest is significant and that it has sustained for 1,000 days now is a landmark achievement. It is important for this protest to succeed. The Parandur project will create a setback for the other airports in the State, and they will not be able to witness any growth,” Mr. Sundarrajan adds.