Airport expansion; Flood of protest telegrams

Chennai, Mar 10 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's office at the Secretariat here was deluged with more than 300 telegrams from the residents of suburban Pozhichallur, Kowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal, urging him to fulfill his promise that there would not be any dislocation of people and livelihood during the airport expansion project.

It may be recalled that Mr Karunanidhi had stated in the Assembly that residential areas would not be dislocated as part of the expansion project.

Various welfare groups at nearby townships, including Pozhichalur, Kowl Bazaar, Anakaputhur and Pammal, held street corner meetings yesterday, to draft a plan of action to protest against the airport expansion.

The meeting decided to send telegrams directly to the Chief Minister to remind him of his assurance to the residents that they would not be shifted from their place.

The aggrieved residents marched to Pallavaram Post Office and shot off hundreds of telegrams this morning. In the telegram, the Chief Minister was urged to honour his commitment of safeguarding the interests of residents during the airport expansion.

UNI