The founder of the Proletarian People’s Party (PPP) Dr. Ramdas has insisted that the DMK government should not allow the Chennai-Saleem 8-lane green road project, which has faced strong opposition. And is the Tamil Nadu government on the side of the central government trying to implement the plan? On the side of the opposing people?.
In this connection, Dr. Ramdas issued a statement today: It is alarming that the Central Government has resumed work on the implementation of the eight-lane Greenway project between Chennai and Salem. It is against the interests of the farmers that the Central Government intensifies its implementation of this scheme which seeks to snatch the livelihood of the farmers of Tamil Nadu for the benefit of the corporate bosses.
In 2018, the Central Government announced plans to construct an eight-lane green road 276.5 km long from Chennai Tambaram to Padappai. The AIADMK government, which ruled Tamil Nadu at the time, was serious about implementing the plan. For this, it acquired about 6978 acres of land from about 7,000 farmers. The Proletarian People’s Party (PPP), which has been protesting against the 8-lane road project affecting farmers, has filed a case in the Chennai High Court seeking an order to cancel the project.
Anbumani Ramadas case
The Chennai High Court, which heard the case of Dr. Anbumani Ramadass and others, ruled in 2019 to stay the implementation of the 8-lane project. The apex court, hearing the appeals filed against it, ruled that the 8-lane road project could be implemented. Yet even as the manner in which the lands were acquired for the project was erroneous, the Supreme Court ordered that the acquired lands be returned to the farmers. The lands have been handed over accordingly.
Back to the 8-lane project
The central government, which had been patient for a year after the Supreme Court verdict, has now begun work on setting up eight lanes between Chennai and Salem. In its first phase, the state of Bihar has prepared an environmental impact report with the help of a team of experts from Dhanbad IIT.
Kerala Company seeking permission
The Central Government has hired the Government of Kerala’s Kitco to prepare and report on the social and economic impact of the next phase. It has been reported that the National Highways Authority has planned to hold public hearings in Chengalpattu, Kanchipuram, Thiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri and Salem districts on behalf of the company
Tamil Nadu does not need the Chennai-Saleem eight-lane greenway; The position of the Proletarian People’s Party is that it is completely contrary to the interests of the peasantry. There are already 3 National Highways from Chennai to Salem. Fourthly, work on the National Highway 179-A from Vaniyambadi to Salem via Tirupati, Uthangarai, Aroor, Papirettipatti, Manjavadi and Ayodhya has been completed. The Proletarian People’s Party is adamant that this road is not needed fifth in such an environment.
The Tamil Nadu government should oppose
If the Chennai-Saleem Greenway project is implemented, 7,000 farming families will lose their livelihoods. Someone should not rob the livelihoods of tens of thousands of farmers for the benefit of the few. Even though the Chennai-Saleem Green Corridor is a central government project, the Tamil Nadu government should have done the basic work, including acquiring the land required for it. If the Government of Tamil Nadu does not want to implement the 8-lane project against the interests of the people of Tamil Nadu, the Central Government will not be able to implement the Chennai-Saleem eight-lane road project in Tamil Nadu.
Is it on the side of the central government? People side? When the AIADMK-Chennai-Saleem 8-lane project was announced, the DMK later announced that it would oppose the project, despite initially taking awkward positions. With the resumption of work on the eight-lane project, what position is the DMK government going to take now? Is it going to side with the people? Is it going to side with the central government? That is everyone’s expectation. Pamaka insists that the Tamil Nadu government should openly state its position on this. The Central Government should not impose the Chennai & Salem eight-lane project on Tamil Nadu against the interests of Tamil Nadu farmers. I would like to emphasize that the Government of Tamil Nadu should never allow the Central Government to implement the scheme even if it seeks to do so. Thus said Dr. Ramdas
