Kamal Haasan has urged the Tamil Nadu government to consult the public before taking a decision on the Chennai-Salem Expressway.
“People should first be consulted. Many political leaders have expressed their opposition to the project. People cannot be compelled to accept the project,” the Makkal Needhi Maiam leader said.
Haasan wanted to know if an alternative route, one that does not take over so much farmland, could be found for the expressway. He had earlier stated that it was unacceptable to treat anyone talking about the environment as a criminal.
“The project should have been initiated only on the request of the public. The government should think of other alternatives that will cause less public outcry to meet its development goals,” he said.
He also objected to the arrest of politician Seeman on Wednesday. Seeman was in Salem to talk to local farmers about the project and hear their concerns about it. However, he was arrested by the local police who feared that he might incite them.
Rajinikanth, on the other hand, expressed his support for the project. He also said that anybody who loses their land to the expressway must be adequately compensated. Projects like these will lead to overall economic development of the state, the actor observed.
“In places, land acquisition becomes inevitable, substantial compensation and land elsewhere must be offered. Projects should be implemented without affecting the livelihood as much as possible,” he said.
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The Tamil Nadu Government has received widespread criticism after announcing the project. Several environmental activists, prominent politicians have raised their voice against it. Farmers and residents of the villages on the highway have gone on protests against the government’s eight-lane expressway proposal. The Madras High Court said on Wednesday that the land acquisition process should not lead to police officials using force.
Rajinikanth seemingly defended the state government when he said: “Everyone is happy to accuse the state government. But, projects need to be implemented and this government too has been doing that,” he added.