Kabaddi Maran, a fishing leader, said that big projects such as the new Secretariat have to be constructed away from the sea, given the threat of rising sea levels.
| Photo Credit: JOTHI RAMALINGAM B
Fishermen from Ennore to Kovalam have planned to stage an agitation on September 29 against the proposal to construct the Secretariat at Foreshore Estate in Chennai. The protest will be held at Foreshore Estate with community leaders from the other districts too likely to join.
Fishing leader K. Bharathi said the protest has been announced because there was no move by the government to drop the proposal. “We had hoped that once the Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay returned from his trip to London, he would take a call. Since our people have voted for him, we hoped he would reciprocate that love for us. But no,” he alleged.
V.R. Vijayan of Maylai Pagudhi Anaithu Meenava Grama Panchayat Sabhai said that no meeting was held with the stakeholders before the decision was taken. “The local MLA, who is a Minister, has not come and met us or even sent feelers. All other political parties, including the DMK, have been speaking on our behalf,” he added.
Residents in the area pointed out that there were 14 schools in the surrounding area, and they had enough trouble with traffic during school pick-up and drop-off times. A major portion of the lands identified by the government belongs to Srinivasapuram, one of the fishing hamlets.
Kabaddi Maran, a community leader, also pointed out that Thideer Nagar residents, who included fishing families, were shifted to Tsunami Colony in Semmanchery after the Tsunami. “This land is very close to the beach. We live here because we have been living here for generations. When something as big as the Secretariat is going to be constructed, it is best that it come up inland, away from the sea. It is all the more important with the sea levels rising.”
A former planner said factors like accessibility for the general public and Secretariat employees would be taken into consideration while choosing the site. Security aspects would be considered. Accessibility, usability, and time taken to reach are important too. Vertical development would not be an option in the long-term, and maintenance would be an issue. “If one visits the Secretariat, one could see files being stacked along the corridors. The MLAs are seated quite close to each other due to lack of space. Parking inside Fort St. George is a big problem as it is a shared space.”
Published – September 23, 2026 12:25 am IST
