Over 800 days later, people continue to protest the Parandur project despite the human cost
The death by suicide of K Divya, Vice President of the Ekanapuram Panchayat, has cast a spotlight on the struggles faced by residents protesting the proposed Parandur International Airport.
Divya’s death by suicide, which took place on Monday, 18 November, has also sparked wider discussions about the physical, mental, and financial hardships of people who take part in such long-drawn protests.
Divya was married to Ganapathy – a prominent member of the anti-airport protest and Deputy Youth Wing Organiser of PMK – and the couple have three children.
Related: 774 days of resistance amid restrictions as locals oppose Parandur airport project
A life cut short by fear and frustration?
Divya was actively involved in raising concerns about the Parandur airport project, which threatens to displace residents and acquire agricultural land from 13 villages in and around Parandur.
According to locals who spoke to South First, Divya often voiced fears about her village being erased and the loss of farmland, issues that weighed heavily on her mental health.
Subramanian, Secretary of the Ekanapuram Protest Group, shed light on the difficulties faced by protesters.
Speaking to South First, he shared: “Divya was taking medication for mental health earlier but had to pause in between. One main reason for it could be that we all have had to stop working since we started protesting. This puts a financial strain on all of us.”
He continued: “There is no income, and our children’s basic needs remain unmet. Divya may have succumbed to the financial and emotional pressures that have become a regular part of our lives.”
Protesters across the 13 villages have voiced similar struggles, citing job losses and an uncertain future as they continue their resistance against the airport project. Divya’s death has deepened their sense of urgency and despair, said Subramanian.
Protesters across the 13 villages lament about similar struggles, citing job losses and an uncertain future as they continue their resistance against the Parandur airport project. Divya’s death has deepened their sense of urgency and despair, said Subramanian.
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Divya’s legacy to live on
Following her death, Ganapathy attempted to perform Divya’s last rites without notifying the authorities, reportedly out of frustration with what he saw as the government’s inaction in addressing the community’s plight. However, the police intervened, and an investigation has been launched into her death.
In a gesture reflecting Divya’s values, her eyes were donated posthumously by Ganapathy ensuring her legacy lives on. Four individuals have regained the gift of sight through this donation.
“Divya believed that everyone should live with love, affection, and harmony,” a local resident fondly recalls to South First about the woman he considers his sibling. “Even after her passing, her kindness continues to impact lives.”
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Over two years later, what keeps protesters going?
The Parandur airport project has been the focal point of intense protests for over two years, with local communities vehemently opposing the acquisition of their land and homes for the construction of the airport.
The project aims to establish a major international airport in Kanchipuram to ease congestion at the existing Chennai International Airport. However, it has met with significant resistance from the villagers who fear losing their livelihoods, agricultural land, and residential areas.
Though officials have tried several times to restrict the protesters, the villagers are resolute and unflinching in its face.
Wednesday, 20 November marks the 846th day of their protest. What keeps them going?
They argue that the construction of an airport in Parandur will displace thousands of families and disrupt their way of life. The project is part of an effort by the Tamil Nadu government to ease congestion at the existing Chennai International Airport.
Despite the Tamil Nadu government’s commitment to moving forward with the plan, protesters – residents and environmentalists alike – remain steadfast in their opposition, calling for a reevaluation of the Parandur project in favour of sustainable development alternatives.
Meanwhile, Subramanian emphasise that stakes are high for those who fear their lands and livelihoods will be sacrificed for a development project that benefits only a few while displacing many.
Wider implications of the protest
Protesters argue that their collective hardships, including job losses, financial instability, and the ongoing uncertainty about their future, are the harsh realities of living in the affected villages.
As authorities investigate the circumstances surrounding Divya’s death, her life and her contributions to the protest serve as a stark reminder of the human cost associated with large-scale development projects and the deep emotional toll they exact on those involved.
(Edited by Neena)
