Communist Party of India (CPI) State Secretary M. Veerapandian has urged the Tamil Nadu government to stop its proposed plan to construct a new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam in Chennai. He has raised concerns about the possible impact of the project on fishermen, the coastal environment and people who use the beach.
Veerapandian said the proposed location is closely connected to the lives and livelihoods of several fishing communities. According to him, around nine fishing villages near the site could be affected if the large government complex is constructed.
Thousands of people in these coastal communities depend directly or indirectly on the sea for their income. Fishing, moving boats, selling fish and other related activities are important sources of livelihood for local families.
The CPI leader warned that the project could affect around 1,500 families living in the area. If the construction leads to restrictions on access to the coast, fishermen could face difficulties in reaching the sea, keeping their boats and carrying out their daily work.
He also pointed out that Pattinapakkam is already a densely populated coastal area. Building a large government complex would require significant space and could place additional pressure on the limited land and beach area available to local residents.
Environmental concerns are another major issue raised by Veerapandian. He said the proposed location is an important coastal ecosystem and is known as a nesting area for Olive Ridley turtles. Large-scale construction and increased human activity could potentially disturb the natural environment.
The proposed Secretariat could also bring additional security restrictions to the area. Veerapandian argued that establishing a high-security government complex near the beach could limit public access to coastal areas that are currently used by local residents and fishermen.
He further warned about the risks of developing major infrastructure in a vulnerable coastal zone. Chennai’s coastline faces natural risks, including severe storms, coastal flooding and rising sea levels associated with climate change.
According to Veerapandian, these factors should be carefully considered before the government finalises the location of such an important administrative complex. He said long-term safety should be given priority instead of focusing only on the availability of land.
The CPI leader has therefore called on the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider the Pattinapakkam site and look for a safer alternative location for the proposed Secretariat. He stressed that development should not come at the cost of the livelihoods of fishing communities or damage to the coastal environment.
The issue is likely to attract further public and political discussion as the government considers its plans for the new Secretariat. The concerns raised by fishermen, environmental groups and political parties could play an important role in the debate over the proposed project.