Create a large reservoir in Parandur: Anbumani

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss on Sunday said the State government should create a large water reservoir in the 5700 acres of lands acquired in Parandur for the scrapped greenfield airport project.

Speaking at an awareness rally in Chennai seeking notification of Pallikaranai marsh lands as a Ramsar site, he said, “ A large water reservoir can be created on that more than 5,000-acre area. The Tamil Nadu government says there are 33 lakes there. All those lakes should be connected and this reservoir should be created over 5,500 acres. It will be of great benefit to the people of Chennai and the surrounding districts,” he said.

“The Tamil Nadu government must identify what constitutes the marshland and up to where this land extends, and issue it as a notification. The Chief Minister must intervene in this matter. This is not a problem of the people of the Perumbakkam, Madipakkam and Thoraipakkam areas. It is a problem of the people of the entire Chennai,” he said.

According to him, Chennai needs a second airport since the runway at the current airport is not of the same standard or convenience as those at international airports.

“If very large aircraft are to land, a 60-metre runway is required, but the runway at Meenambakkam is only 45 metres wide. This is not sufficient. That is why the large aircraft that come to Bengaluru are unable to come to Chennai. Apart from this, cargo aircraft facilities at Chennai airport are not sufficient. The Meenambakkam airport is located on the GST Main Road, and it is impossible for container lorries to travel through that route,” he said.

However, he also said, “Agricultural lands in Parandur should not be destroyed. The Tamil Nadu government has taken a decision, and we welcome it. Similarly, we urge the Tamil Nadu government not to acquire agricultural lands for the Cheyyar Melma SIPCOT expansion either. At the same time, a minister has said industries are going to be brought to the land acquired in Parandur. This cannot be accepted. If the airport destroys agriculture, industries will ruin it even more severely. The Chennai airport is not just for the development of Chennai; it is for the development of the whole of Tamil Nadu

PMK legislature party leader, Sowmiya Anbumani said, “On behalf of Pasumai Thaayagam, we have already undertaken a 22-kilometre bicycle journey and created awareness about the need to protect Pallikaranai. We have made and released a documentary about the Pallikaranai marshland. The Pallikaranai Marshland Authority was established in 2012. The Tamil Nadu government has announced that a park is going to be constructed near the Pallikaranai marshland. Garbage is being dumped here and there is a foul smell. In the midst of this foul smell, which members of the public would go to that park? To protect the Pallikaranai marshland, it should be measured through satellite imagery and officially notified.”