HC stays land acquisition for Chennai Airport modernisation

Chennai, Apr 17 (UNI) Madras High Court today stayed operation of the Tamil Nadu Government Order acquiring 583 hectares land adjoining Chennai Aiport for the proposed reconstruction and modernisation of the airport.

Mr Justice D Murugesan granted the interim stay on a petition filed by Polichalur Makkal Nala Munnetra Sangam, which also sought to quash the GO dated December 14, 2005.

The petitioner said the Sangam had 879 members. Polichalur was situated near Meenambakkam Airport and was a thickly populated residential area. There were several hospitals, schools and temples.

It had middle-class families, who purchased small portions of lands by availing bank and private loans and built houses. They had invested their life savings, borrowings and all their possesions for building a house of their own.

Airport Authority of India (AAI) had undertaken a study to set up an international project and TIDCO too had done a study. The proposal was being implemented by the State Transport Department and Ministry of Civil Aviation. Later, at a meeting on May 28, 2005, authorities were requested to freeze all building activity on the project zone on the new alignment, to prepare a notification, the Sangam said.

Pursuant to this, land falling in Manapakkam, Kolapakkam, Gerugambakkam, Tharapakkam, Thandalam, Kovur, Peripanicheri and Caul Bazaar villages were earmarked for acquisition. By proceedings dated September 6, 2005, CMDA notified the municipalities and instructed freezing of building activities in the area. A sketch was prepared.

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