Most farmers are on board, only few are objecting to Green Expressway Corridor: Tamil Nadu CM Edappadi Palaniswami

SALEM: Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami in Salem on Sunday said farmers were fully cooperating in the implementation of the proposed Green Expressway Corridor project and only a few were objecting to it.
In town to participate in an AIADMK function, the CM told media at Salem Airport that the project was very important.

“Out of 100 farmers only four or five are refusing to give up their land,” he said. Stating that in 2006 the National Highway from Bengaluru to Madurai, the National Highway was laid via Krishnagiri, Salem, and Tiruchy and in 2009-11, National Highway was laid at Ulundurpet, he said at the time total vehicle population of Tamil Nadu was 1.7 crore.

“Now it is 2.57 crore. Considering the increase in number of vehicles, we have to lay new roads. It is the government’s responsibility,” he said.

Regarding charges that those who protested against the project were being arrested, the CM said action was only taken on those who were acting against the law. On the Salem airport expansion, he said land acquisition was unavoidable. “Defence corridor is coming up in Salem, more industries will come up and we have to create more job opportunities for educated youth,” he said. “We will give more compensation to poor who are losing land. The government will construct homes for those who will lose their quarter and half acre lands for these projects,” he assured.