HC upholds land acquisition for airport

Chennai, Mar 27 (UNI) Madras High Court today upheld the Tamil Nadu Government's notification to acquire 1,070 acre of land,on behalf of of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), to expand the Chennai Airport.

The First Bench comprising Chief Justice A P Shah and Ms Justice Prabha Sridevan dismissed a batch of 35 writ petiiions filed by Macro Marvel Projects Limited and local land owners challenging land acquisition in Manappakkam, Gerugambakkam and Tharaipakkam areas of Kancheepuram District.

Dismissing the petitions, the Bench said there was no merit in the challenge raised to the acquisition proceedings initiated by the State Government Under 'Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act and notices issued under Section 3 (2) of the said Act as the State was entitled to proceed with the acquisition and acquire the lands and hand them over to the AAI.

As per the assurance given by the Advocate General, the Bench directed the District Collector to consider objection applications filed on or before April 26 by anybody on its own merits.

The Bench also accepted the AG's assurance on providing an alternative site for a residential school located in the area if its made an application.

The authorities were directed to take appropriate measures for continuation of studies for the more than 1,500 students in the school.

It said the State had taken a policy decision to allot plots to householders of Kovur Area,some of the whom had fully completed house construction.

In the light of the notification for land acquisition, their cases also deserved to be considered on the same footing for allotment of alternative land.

They are free to make a representation on which the State will take appropriate decision in accordance with the law, it said.

UNI XR GM VD RN1909