IMPACT OF PARANDHUR GREENFIELD AIRPORT ON LOCAL COMMUNITIES AND ECONOMY

India’s rapidly expanding aviation sector reflects the country’s broader shift towards industrial growth,
urbanisation, and stronger global connectivity. The proposed Parandhur Greenfield Airport in Tamil
Nadu is a key example of this development. It is expected to improve regional connectivity and
position the State as an important aviation hub.
However, alongside these expected benefits, the project has also raised serious concerns among
local communities. Issues such as land acquisition, displacement of farmers, environmental
degradation, and the protection of basic rights have become central to the debate.
This paper examines the tension between the State’s power to acquire land and the fundamental
right to livelihood guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. To explore this issue in
depth, the study combines legal analysis with observations from the affected regions. It analyses
important legislation such as the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition,
Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, along with relevant constitutional provisions and judicial
decisions.
Further, the research highlights the lived experiences of people from 13 affected villages. It explores
how displacement disrupts their lives—through loss of income, breakdown of traditional agricultural
practices, environmental damage, and increasing resistance from local communities. The study also
compares India’s land acquisition framework with those of countries like the United States, the United
Kingdom, and China, in order to identify gaps and suggest possible improvements.