Is Land Registration Starting for the Parandur Airport Project Amid Protests?

Chennai, July 9 (NationPress) Despite ongoing protests from local residents, the land registration process for the proposed Parandur greenfield airport project officially began on Wednesday at the Joint Sub-Registrar Office (SRO) in Kancheepuram.

The registration involved land parcels valued at Rs 9.22 crore, with 19 landowners from five villages willingly giving up their land for this ambitious initiative.

The acquisition of land is being managed by the Tamil Nadu Industrial Investment Corporation (TIIC), which is responsible for implementing the state’s second international airport following Chennai.

The Tamil Nadu government has approved attractive compensation packages to facilitate land acquisition and address the concerns of affected landowners. A Government Order (GO) issued by V Arun Roy, Secretary of the Industries, Investment Promotion and Commerce Department, has established a flat compensation rate ranging from Rs 35 lakh to Rs 60 lakh per acre for 1,960.63 acres of land.

This includes statutory components such as 275 percent of the negotiable guideline value and an additional 25 percent incentive. This rate applies to land parcels where the guideline value ranges from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 17 lakh per acre.

In certain high-value areas, compensation could reach up to Rs 2.57 crore per acre, according to officials. To navigate the complexities of land value variations, the Kancheepuram District Collector has been authorized to engage in private negotiations for two categories: 374.53 acres where the guideline value falls within the Rs 5 lakh–Rs 17 lakh band but owners demand compensation beyond the flat rate; and for 996.09 acres where guideline values exceed Rs 17 lakh per acre.

For landowners who do not agree to the fixed rate or negotiated settlement, the government will proceed under the Tamil Nadu Acquisition of Land for Industrial Purposes Act, 1997.

In such situations, compensation will be calculated according to statutory provisions, including the valuation of standing structures and trees, alongside a 100 percent solatium and a 25 percent incentive.

Despite these measures, opposition to the project continues to be strong. K.R. Manikumar, a leader of the Parandur Airport Protest Committee, criticized the government’s offer.

“Since the project was announced, land prices in our villages have surged from Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore per acre. The government’s offer is significantly below the market rate. We will not accept it,” he stated.

Residents and activists have persistently expressed concerns regarding displacement, environmental degradation, and loss of livelihoods. While the state government is determined to expedite the airport project, the ongoing resistance from villagers indicates that the struggle over land is far from resolved.