A now-scrapped plan to make a new airport in Chennai has become the latest flashpoint between Tamil Nadu’s ruling TVK and the Opposition DMK that lost the election just months ago.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), have been on the side of protesters who objected to the airport plan citing environmental concerns and danger to multi-crop agricultural lands in Chennai’s Parandur.
Now, Vijay has shelved the project. He had campaigned hard against the project before the election. Vijay’s latest decision has closed this chapter.
“We are dropping Parandur airport. I stand firm with the protesters against the proposed airport,” Vijay said.
But the showdown has not ended with the DMK led by former chief minister MK Stalin sending a dare to Vijay to “open our files” instead of insinuating suspicion over the proposed airport project which was initiated during the DMK’s tenure.
“If the chief minister doesn’t open our files, we will move a privilege motion against him in the assembly,” DMK leader Duraimurugan told reporters today. “We are giving him permission to open it. If he doesn’t do that in one week, the Opposition will consider moving a privilege motion to show the chief minister gave incorrect information in the assembly,” he said.
Just after coming to power after a massive win, the Vijay government had already said it would review the site earmarked for the proposed greenfield airport. In June, TVK leader CTR Nirmal Kumar had announced a comprehensive review of the proposed project had been going on to find alternative locations. This would help protect local waterbodies and fertile lands, he had said.