PMK chief pitches for reservoir on scrapped Parandur airport land

PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss has urged the Tamil Nadu government to convert the land acquired for the scrapped greenfield airport project at Parandur into a large water reservoir. Speaking at an awareness rally in Chennai on Sunday, he said the 5,700-acre site, which the state says contains 33 lakes, could be developed into a water body spanning about 5,500 acres by connecting these water bodies.

He argued that such a reservoir would significantly benefit Chennai and neighbouring districts. The demand comes amid a broader push to protect the Pallikaranai marshland, which the PMK leader wants officially notified as a Ramsar site. He called on the Chief Minister to intervene and ensure the marshland's boundaries are identified and notified, stressing that the issue affects the entire city, not just nearby localities like Perumbakkam, Madipakkam, and Thoraipakkam.

On the airport issue, Ramadoss acknowledged the need for a second airport for Chennai, citing the current Meenambakkam runway's limitations. He noted that the 45-metre-wide runway cannot handle very large aircraft, which require a 60-metre width, and that cargo truck access is constrained by the airport's location on GST Main Road.

However, he firmly opposed any industrial use of the Parandur land, warning that while agriculture should not be destroyed, industries would cause even greater damage. He also urged the government not to acquire agricultural land for the proposed Cheyyar Melma SIPCOT expansion.

PMK legislature party leader Sowmiya Anbumani highlighted ongoing efforts to protect Pallikaranai, including a 22-kilometre bicycle awareness ride and a documentary. She pointed to garbage dumping and foul odours near the marsh, questioning the viability of a planned park in such conditions, and reiterated the need for satellite-based measurement and official notification of the wetland.