Chennai: Within the run-up to the Tamil Nadu meeting elections, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay had vehemently opposed a number of vital infrastructure initiatives within the state, branding them anti-people, anti-farmers and environmentally harmful.
The election introduced him to energy, however he now has to make an vital choice. Will we proceed to dam these initiatives similar to Parandur Airport, Chennai-Salem Expressway, Katpalli Port Enlargement, Melma SIPCOT Industrial Park, ONGC Hydrocarbon Exploration, or will we systematically backtrack and permit them within the pursuits of enterprise and industrial development?
The brand new chief minister’s selections on these stalled multi-billion initiatives will probably be vital as they won’t solely have an effect on agricultural land, water our bodies, fisheries-related livelihoods and your entire ecosystem, however can even form the state’s industrial development, logistics connectivity, employment prospects and skill to ease stress on Chennai’s current infrastructure.
The TVK founder took the oath of workplace as prime minister on Might 10.
Additionally learn: Mr. Vijay’s TVK authorities orders speedy launch of Tamil Nadu YouTuber ‘Sabukk’ Shankar
Parandur airport
When the DMK authorities introduced that it might construct a greenfield worldwide airport at Parandur, about 40 km west of Chennai.in 2022Vijay was one in all its most vocal critics.
He joined farmers and activists in protest, accusing the federal government of destroying fertile farmland and water our bodies for initiatives they are saying are pushed by hidden vested pursuits. He questioned why the DMK opposed related initiatives when it was in opposition and supported them when it was in energy.
The proposed airport, unfold over 5,746 acres and estimated to price round Rs 27,400 crore, has been devised with the purpose of relieving stress on the Chennai airport in Meenambakkam and in addition bringing in industrial development within the area.
Land acquisition proceedings have been underway when the DMK went out of energy. these electionsthe mission will probably be thought-about by Chief Minister Vijay, who’s on report as saying: of The proposed airport would destroy 90 p.c of the area’s agricultural land and 13 our bodies of water.
he had blamed the DMK authorities Selecting industrial pursuits over agricultural communities.
“Solely an anti-people authorities will herald a mission that evicts farmers. My attraction to the Union and state authorities is to rethink the Palandur airport,” he informed protesters in Palandur in January 2025.
After taking on as chief minister, Mr. Vijay reportedly ordered that the proposed airport mission be “maintained as is” and quickly halted additional land acquisition and growth actions.
The mission stays at a authorized and administrative deadlock attributable to unresolved land compensation disputes.
Chennai-Salem Expressway
The 277-kilometer eight-lane Chennai-Salem Expressway is designed as a high-speed logistics mission to enhance connectivity in elements of western Tamil Nadu, doubtlessly lowering freight prices and connecting the economic clusters of Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri with Chennai’s port and airport infrastructure.
When the AIADMK authorities promoted it in 2018the then opposing DMK opposed the transfer, claiming that the mission was an assault on farmers, village ecology and land rights.
DMK president MK Stalin, who had opposed the scheme in 2019, had promised to scrap it as soon as the social gathering got here to energy in 2021. His social gathering gained the election and Stalin grew to become prime minister.
However his authorities took a reasonable perspective In regards to the mission with out being particular.
The then Highways Minister EV Velu had stated in April 2022 that “there isn’t a change within the DMK’s place” whereas asserting that the federal government shouldn’t be against the mission however wants farmers’ help.
He stated the choice could be taken solely after consulting individuals and farmers, noting that the mission was being expanded to 6 lanes and wanted to acquire environmental permits.
In a debate within the Meeting, Bell stated the DMK has not modified its stand on the development of the eight-lane expressway.
He additional stated that this can be a mission of the Union authorities and the DMK. authorities They did not say they needed the mission. “I’ve no opposition or help for this mission,” he stated.
In response to a query from 2023 PMK Rajya Sabha member Anbumani Ramadoss, Street Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari stated, DMK authorities We now have by no means formally opposed or rejected the mission in any formal communication.
As for Vijay, whereas collaborating within the protests in opposition to Parandur airport, he stated that the DMK opposed the Salem expressway however proposed Parandur airport which was a “double customary”.
Protests, court docket petitions and political stress have stalled the freeway mission. Though it’s accepted on paper, Not taking off on the bottom It’s because the survey stays incomplete and land acquisition throughout the district is pending.
Kattupalli Port
time AIADMK took energy and Adani Group expanded Kattupalli port for Rs 53,031 crore. suggestion was actively contemplating in 2018, The DMK opposed the transfer, saying it might adversely have an effect on coastal communities and fishing actions and trigger environmental destruction.
The Kattupalli growth by Adani Group, which acquired a 97% stake within the port from Larsen and Toubro in 2018, proposed increasing the port from 330 acres to greater than 6,100 acres.
The mission promised to remodel the power into a significant container and multipurpose cargo hub for north Chennai, with vital ramifications for the broader logistics and manufacturing hall.
Vijay had come below hearth within the DMK through the Parandur airport protest for supporting the development of Parandur airport whereas opposing the growth of Katpalli port.
The mission stays embroiled in authorized points, environmental disputes and sustained protests from fishing communities throughout a number of coastal villages in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
Environmentalists and consultants have additionally expressed critical considerations, warning that the growth might trigger large coastal erosion and result in biodiversity loss, notably affecting native fish species, crabs, shrimp and small turtles.
Villagers fear that their land will probably be submerged and their conventional livelihood, centered on fishing, destroyed, however Adani Ports denies these claims.
It’s unclear whether or not the brand new authorities will search to reset the phrases of the mission or reinstate the approval course of with new phrases, now that Mr. Vijay, as chief minister, must decide on the destiny of the mission.
Melma SIPCOT Industrial Mission
Proposed by the DMK authorities in 2022, third Sipcott (Tamil Nadu State Industrial Promotion Company) The commercial park has been deliberate over 3,174 acres in Melma village and 7 adjoining areas of Tiruvannamalai district.
of stalin authorities He stated that industrial growth will create employment alternatives in areas that want it. Nevertheless, the plan was opposed by farmers who staged sit-in protests for months. A few of them have been arrested.
in the meantime, TVK July 2025 Govt AssemblyMr. Vijay was transferred and handed 20 main coverage resolutions. One decision clearly and strongly condemned the DMK authorities’s plans for the Melma SIPCOT mission and demanded that the state halt the growth utterly.
TVK positions itself on the facet of agricultural communities combating in opposition to land grab-driven industrial initiatives. On the similar govt committee assembly, Mr. Vijay declared that TVK is “all the time on the facet of farmers” and opposes industrial initiatives that threaten agricultural land and water our bodies.
After coming to energy, his social gathering has but to convey the mission up for dialogue.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
Additionally learn: Mr. Vijay will rewrite politics in Tamil Nadu. Get able to construct a long-term benefit
