TN Govt convenes all-party meet on airport expansion project

Chennai, May 16 (UNI) The Tamil Nadu Government has decided to take up the Chennai airport expansion project and convened a meeting of Legislature parties to discuss the issue.

Chief Minister M Karunanidhi, in a bid to arrive at a consensus on the issue, convened a meeting of leaders of Legislature parties on May 22 at the Secretariat, an official release here said.

The Chief Minister, in a signed letter, invited leaders of the Legislature parties, which included the Opposition AIADMK, MDMK and ruling DMK's allies - Congress, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI and Dalit Panthers of India.

The State Government had to put on hold a decision on the project after the PMK raised a banner of revolt against acquiring lands near the airport for expansion.

PMK founder-leader Dr S Ramadoss, who launched a campaign against evicting people living near the airport, suggested that the Government, instead of expanding the present airport, go in for a new greenfield airport.

As the residents took to the streets, denouncing the Government's move to evict them, Mr Karunanidhi, allaying fears, had assured them that the Government would not acquire any land on the outskirts of Chennai, which was largely inhabited by the poor, for the airport expansion project.

He had also made it clear that even if there was a delay in the project, the Government would not take any unilateral decision. ''We will take a decision only after consulting leaders of all parties,'' he said.

Meanwhile, chambers of commerce, confederation of industries and other trade bodies have warned the State Government that Chennai would no longer be an international hub if it failed to take up the expansion project immediately.

UNI