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Is Parandur Airport Needed For Chennai?

November 4, 2024
The Commune

After Kollywood actor-turned-politician Vijay recently unveiled the resolutions of his Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) party on 3 November 2024, one of the key demands—scrapping the Parandur Airport project—has reignited the debate among supporters and opponents. This issue has polarized social media, with some viewing the airport as a vital opportunity for development, while others see it as a potential disaster for a region rich in agricultural resources and water sources, and also recognised as a”rice bowl” due to its paddy cultivation. In this context, this article aims to explore both the positives and negatives of the Parandur Airport project, examining why it may be essential for Chennai and the reasons for opposition.

Chennai is at a critical juncture when it comes to aviation infrastructure. The proposed Parandur Airport project is not just a necessity; it’s a strategic move to ensure that the city can keep pace with its growing demands. Here’s an in-depth look at why this new airport is vital.

Addressing Capacity Constraints

Chennai’s existing airport at Meenambakkam has reached its limits. With a maximum capacity of 35 million passengers annually (MPA), it falls short compared to other major airports in India:

Comparative Capacity: Airports in Bengaluru and Hyderabad can handle 70 MPA, while Mumbai and Delhi are constructing second airports to meet rising demands.
Logistics and Connectivity: An expanded airport at Parandur would strengthen Chennai’s logistics ecosystem, crucial for economic growth and competitiveness.

Challenges With Expanding Current Airport

The existing airport has several operational constraints:

Land Acquisition Issues: Expanding the current site is not feasible, particularly due to the difficulty in acquiring land from the adjacent OTA and the high costs associated with other nearby locations like Gerugambakkam.
Physical Limitations: The airport’s layout is hindered by a river and narrow access routes, leading to inefficiencies, especially for cargo operations, which are crucial for business.

Supporting Future Growth

India’s aviation market is poised for significant growth. Reports indicate that the next decade will see a surge in air travel among Indians. To accommodate this:

Fleet Expansion: Airlines have over 1,000 aircraft on order, creating an urgent need for more airport infrastructure.
Job Creation: The new airport will catalyze a wide array of industries, including logistics, warehousing, hotels, and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, generating employment for millions.

Site Selection And Environmental Considerations

The decision to develop the airport at Parandur wasn’t arbitrary. It followed extensive studies evaluating multiple sites. Factors in favor of Parandur include:

Land Availability: Securing 4,000+ acres is challenging in the Chennai area, especially without agricultural land or water bodies.
Environmental Management: The project includes plans for managing local water bodies, with commitments to create new artificial lakes to mitigate flooding risks.

Economic Benefits For Displaced Communities

One of the most pressing concerns about any large infrastructure project is the impact on local communities. For Parandur, the government has committed to:

Fair Compensation: Landowners will receive 3-4 times the market value for their land, ensuring they are adequately compensated for their loss.
Alternate Housing: The provision of alternative housing adjacent to the project site is a significant benefit, helping to minimize disruption.
Employment Opportunities: Promises of government jobs for displaced individuals further underline the commitment to supporting those affected by the project

However, critics argues that areas like Parandur and Ekanapuram play a crucial role in the agricultural landscape, especially when we consider Thanjavur, often referred to as the “rice bowl” of Tamil Nadu due to its fertile soil. While Thanjavur relies on the riverbed and the Mettur Dam, along with the Cauvery River, these villages have developed a unique resilience. They can sustain themselves through lake irrigation, cultivating around 2,000 acres of paddy land without depending solely on government support, rainfall, or river water. This independent irrigation system highlights the area’s agricultural significance beyond its reliance on larger water bodies.

Historical Context And Heritage Sites

These areas have a rich historical context, dating back to the Pallava kings. Notably, there are two significant lakes, one of which is Vayal Eri, created by King Kambavarman. His intention was to create a lake that would provide water year-round. After rainfall, any excess water from the lake would flow into nearby ponds, which would then feed into streams, ultimately ensuring a consistent and reliable water source for agriculture.The canals that distribute this water are known as Kamban Canals. The canal runs for 85 Kms and along these canals, there are 85 ponds, pools, and streams, with the Kamban Canal eventually flowing into the Kosasthalaiyar River, starting from the Palar River.

The local people have traditionally utilized a method akin to step cultivation, allowing water from the lake to flow naturally through their fields. However, the proposal for a new airport threatens to erase the name of the town “Nelvoy,” which means “paddy fields,” along with the agricultural heritage that it represents.

In the village, there is an 11th-century Chola Shiva temple, notable for its architecture resembling a sitting elephant. Additionally, there is a large lake called Idayatru Mangalam, named for the travelers who once stopped there to rest. This area is recognized as a heritage site.

Community Concerns

As the project progresses, community leaders express deep concern. One of the village heads, discussing the village’s characteristics, mentioned that it has five fields dedicated to agriculture, covering 650 acres. Known as “Nelvoy,” the village focuses exclusively on paddy cultivation. The lake stretches up to 7 kilometers, with water from the Palar River feeding it. However, since the announcement of the airport, the villagers have been unable to access water from the lake because the Tamil Nadu government is not allowing water from the dam to flow into it.

A Question of Sustainability

The saddest part is that the government has proposed an airport runway on this historical lake, which has sustained the entire village for many years. This raises the question of sustainability—how can we prioritize development while jeopardizing our own agricultural heritage, often referred to as the “rice bowl”? Another shock is that the entire airport is set to be built on 12 lakes.

The proposed Parandur Airport is positioned as a crucial step toward modernizing Chennai’s aviation infrastructure and meeting the demands of a growing population. However, the plan raises significant concerns about the impact on local communities, agricultural heritage, and the environment. While the government has pledged economic benefits and employment opportunities for those displaced, critics emphasize the importance of the region’s historical and agricultural significance. With the potential to disrupt vital water sources and erase longstanding cultural identities, the project poses a profound question: how can Chennai balance the need for development with the preservation of its rich agricultural landscape?

The Solution

The land where highways now stretch and factories operate was once farmland. Infrastructure requires land, but the focus should always be on providing fair, prompt compensation to those affected. Compensation delays are common, and promised government jobs often don’t materialize. These issues should be urgently addressed whenever land is acquired. However, halting projects entirely undermines the broader welfare of the state’s people. industrialists who create job opportunities, tourists who boost the economy, and local businesspeople all rely on airports. Investment decisions heavily factor in connectivity, and Chennai risks falling behind both Bangalore and Hyderabad without progress. The priority for political parties should be in ensuring timely compensation. But to call for the complete dropping of the project is foolhardy.

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