TNCC president K.S. Alagiri on Tuesday said it was strange that PMK leader S. Ramadoss, “who never bothered to raise his voice against the acquisition of land for establishing a railway line to Tiruvannamalai through Tindivanam and Gingee”, was opposing land acquisition for the Chennai-Salem green corridor.
In a statement, Mr. Alagiri said it was wrong to argue that agricultural land should not be acquired for public projects. “The project may go to another State. But land should be acquired with the approval of the owners, and they will be ready to part with their property if the compensation matched their expectations. In independent India, land for railways, roads, airports and public sector companies are acquired in this manner,” he said.
Recalling the Madras High Court order on the project, Mr. Alagiri said the contention of the court was that none of the stipulations of the National Highways Authority of India was followed in the Chennai-Salam green corridor.
Mr. Alagiri alleged that permission for the project was not obtained from the authorities dealing with such works, and the State government was keen on implementing the ₹10,000-crore project to benefit an individual.
“As far as the Congress is concerned, it will not blindly oppose any project like the PMK. A project is implemented for the benefit of the people, and if they oppose it on the ground that it will affect them, the government should address their concerns. People will not forget the attempt made by the AIADMK government in the State and the BJP government at the Centre to impose a project on them,” he said.
