Farmers from twelve villages in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri district are mobilizing to meet Chief Minister M K Stalin, voicing strong opposition to the state government's move to acquire nearly 3,000 acres of land for a proposed international airport. The acquisition process, targeting 2,980 acres across Hosur and Shoolagiri taluks, has sparked fears of disrupted livelihoods and questions over the project's technical viability.
Farmers Rally Against "Hasty" Land Acquisition
The core of the farmers' grievance lies in the perceived rush to acquire land. They point out that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has not yet granted formal approval or a green signal for the greenfield airport project. This has led them to question the state government's urgency in initiating the land acquisition process. The farmers argue that the move preempts a crucial regulatory decision and puts their agricultural lands at risk unnecessarily.
Organizing under a collective banner, cultivators from the affected villages—including Palavanapalli, Petthamuthali, Nandimangalam, and others—are determined to take their plea directly to the top. "If our demand is not met, we will hold protests," stated one of the farmers, signaling a readiness for escalated agitation. G Sukumar, a farmer from Nandimangalam, emphasized that the airport would not benefit the local villagers and would severely impact farming activities. He urged the government to reconsider and select an alternative location.
AAI Feasibility Guidelines and Site Selection Saga
Adding weight to the farmers' concerns is a significant technical hurdle. According to AAI guidelines, a new greenfield airport is not generally permitted within a 150-kilometer radius of an existing operational airport. The proposed site at Hosur lies merely 75 kilometers from the Kempegowda International Airport in Devanahalli, Bengaluru, raising serious questions about its technical feasibility from a regulatory standpoint.
The project's journey began when the Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation (TIDCO) hired consultants in December 2021 to identify potential locations for an airport capable of handling 30 million passengers annually. Two sites were shortlisted: an airstrip at Belakondapalli and its surroundings, and the area around Muthali and adjacent villages. A report was subsequently sent to the AAI for evaluation.
In a high-level meeting chaired by CM Stalin on August 22, 2024, the Muthali site was finalized. Officials favored this location due to the availability of extensive government land, accessible roads, an existing high-voltage power line, and a survey finding only 71 types of restricted products in the area compared to 348 around the alternative TAAL site.
Acquisition in Motion and Divergent Voices
Despite the unresolved AAI clearance, the administrative machinery has moved forward. Following an exchange of multiple letters with the AAI between July and December 2023, and in April 2024, TIDCO sought administrative approval from the Chennai Land Administration Commissioner in October 2023. After receiving the nod, it directed the Krishnagiri district collector to proceed with the acquisition.
The process commenced in December 2023, and official sources confirm that 845 acres have already been acquired out of the total 2,980 acres earmarked across the nine villages in the two taluks.
While farmers are united in their opposition, a section of small entrepreneurs from the region views the project differently. They believe the Hosur International Airport would spur economic growth and development in the city and its surrounding areas. Their appeal, however, is tempered with a condition: the land acquisition should be carried out in a manner that causes minimal harm to the farming community, highlighting the complex trade-off between infrastructure development and agricultural sustainability.
The stage is now set for a crucial confrontation, with farmers preparing to petition the Chief Minister to halt the acquisition until all regulatory approvals, particularly from the AAI, are definitively secured and their concerns addressed.
