Date:27/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/27/stories/2006082717600300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

PMK petition to Karunanidhi

Staff Reporter

Chennai: The Pattali Makkal Katchi has submitted a petition to Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi urging the State Government to give up plan to develop a satellite town in the Thiruporur and Kattankulathur panchayat unions.

In a statement here on Friday, the PMK founder S. Ramadoss said there were reports that these two areas, which comprise 44 panchayats and 132 villages, would be developed into a satellite township and Revenue officials were carrying out land census. Mr. Ramadoss said local residents were against the development, as it would mean the destruction of agricultural land on which their livelihood depended. The State should direct that the land census be stopped immediately, failing which the PMK would lead a massive protest, Mr. Ramadoss said. He asked the Government to identify uncultivable land near Thiruperumbudur, Maduranthakam and Acharapakkam.