New airport, save wetlands

The decision of the Tamil Nadu government, under the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, to look for a new airport site for Chennai, instead of Parandur, to protect agricultural lands and local livelihoods is a laudable attempt. In general, the State government should give priority to enacting a law for the protection of all identified wetlands, along with an effective policy for their conservation. Urban land use, including railways, has increased considerably, encroaching mainly on agricultural lands, forests and grasslands.

Many wetlands have been lost or impaired through draining, dredging, filling, excavation, construction and pollution. The protection of wetlands by discouraging urban development activities is therefore necessary. We consider everything to be pervaded by a subtle divine presence, be it water bodies, birds and animals, flora, or the stars and planets. But very little attention is paid to protecting them. Utilising nature’s gifts to mankind without causing harm is the only sensible approach. The conversion of agricultural lands and water bodies has caused considerable suffering.

A.J. Rangarajan,

Chennai

Use of term

It is right for women MLAs in Tamil Nadu to demand that the term ‘Kanni Pechu’ be dropped, but not because it is a ‘gendered term that perpetuates patriarchal notions’. Rather, it is an inane Artificial Intelligence translation into Tamil of the English term ‘maiden speech’. I am sure Tamil experts can vouch that there has never been any patriarchal conspiracy in our history to invoke references to kannis or maidens either to belittle women or to demean our representatives in people’s assemblies.

Anandhi Narayanaswamy,

Chennai