Parandur airport resettlement plan: Tidco sets up model houses for villagers

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation Limited (Tidco) has set up model houses for families to be relocated from 13 villages in Kancheepuram district, as a part of the resettlement plan for the proposed greenfield airport in Parandur. "We have built model houses of similar sizes (400sqft), but different designs, near the primary health centre in Parandur. Villagers can visit them and choose their design," said Tidco MD Sandeep Nanduri. Tidco has prepared an audio-visual to be played in the houses that will explain the amenities available such as schools and hospitals in the townships, besides relief packages for families that forgo their houses and land for the airport. The master plan was prepared with help of the consultancy firm Knight Frank.
Last June, the state govt released a relief package for farmers and residents of the 13 villages and offered between 35lakh and 60lakh an acre of agricultural land. Apart from compensation for the structural value of the house, villagers will be provided with an alternative housing site of five to 10 cents, with a house of 400sqft built on the new site, or they can opt to receive 8 lakh in cash. The relief package covers shops, jobs, resettlement and subsistence allowances, and loans. A social audit is also underway to revise the package benefits. In total, 1,005 families will be relocated to integrated townships proposed at a total of 242 acres in Siruvallur, Maduramangalam, Mahadevi Mangalam, and Karai villages, to make way for the airport spread over 5,000 acres covering 13 villages such as Parandur, Ekanapuram, and Thandalam. Tidco and Kancheepuram district administration completed land acquisition of 1,500 acres and set a target of another 1,000 acres by Feb.However, the Parandur airport protest group head G Subramaniyan said that they were not interested in visiting the model houses. "We stand firm in our opposition. We approached the court against exploitation of water bodies for commercial reasons," he said.