Passionate Chinna Udaippu Residents Stand United Against Unjust Madurai Airport Expansion Land Grab

Residents of Chinna Udaippu in Madurai staged a protest on Sunday against the land acquisition for the Madurai Airport expansion project. They claimed that officials, accompanied by police and heavy machinery, arrived early in the morning to begin demolishing homes without prior notice. While the expansion plan has been in discussion since the 2000s with promises of fair compensation, residents argue that the compensation offered was based on outdated 1990s land values. R. Vignesh Kumar, a local, pointed out the stark disparity, illustrating that a cent of land valued at ₹7 lakh today only fetched some residents about ₹3 lakh for three acres. He suggested reallocating 40 unused acres from a nearby area seized by the airport as an alternative solution. C. Udayar, another resident, emphasized their struggles as even their farmlands were appropriated, appealing for enhanced compensation. The District Revenue Officer, R. Sakthivel, acknowledged the residents’ concerns during a morning meeting but stated that accepted compensations cannot justify refusal to vacate. However, residents have been granted an additional week to relocate their homes.

Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Madurai/chinna-udaippu-residents-protest-against-land-acquisition-process-for-madurai-airport-expansion/article68878971.ece
Category : Madurai
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