Boycott in Eganapuram over proposed airport

Chennai: The total boycott of the grama sabha on Monday by the people of Eganapuram village in Kanchipuram district came after a similar boycott on Independence Day and the passing of resolutions in six consecutive meetings against the setting up of the proposed second airport at Parandur, which if executed, the villagers allege, would completely wipe out their dwellings, fields and livelihood.

If the total 4750 acres of land earmarked for the Greenfield airport project was acquired by the authorities, 13 villages will be affected and the worst hit would be Egnapuram, claimed the people who have been protesting against the government for the last 434 days ever since the announcement on the selection of the site was made.  

On Monday, though the meeting was convened in the presence of Kanchipuram district assistant collector Sangeetha, with the Eganapuram Panchayat President Sumathi chairing it and several other revenue officials like thasildar Sundaramurthy taking part, only the ward councilors took part in the discussions with the entire village boycotting it.

So, the Eganapuram Panchayat Union Middle School premises, the venue of the meeting, wore a deserted look. Soon after the assistant collector arrived in her official vehicle, the meeting started with the handful of officials and ward members assembled there.

The ward members were seen discussing their issues with a few police personnel  providing security for them.

The people said that they were keeping off the meeting since there had been no response from the government for their continuous protest and also the resolutions passed in the earlier grama sabha meetings.

In the other grama sabha meetings held in the villages coming under the area to be acquired for the airport project too, most people kept off the proceedings inprotes against the airport project. However it was Eganapuram that saw a total boycott by the common people.