Fisherfolk oppose the selection of Pattinapakkam as the site for the Secretariat

The proposal to build a secretariat at the Foreshore Estate has not gone down well with fishermen from villages from Nochikuppam to Srinivasapuram along the Marina Loop Road. They say that their livelihood will be totally affected and freedom restricted if the secretariat is to come there.

Community leader K. Bharathi said the implementation of the Blue Flag beach scheme and the use of the Marina Loop Road for traffic movement was already hampering their work.

“We have no place on the beach sand to park our boats, store and repair nets, or sell fish. The small mud road connecting the fishing communities along the coast has become a key thoroughfare used by all. Courts and officials tell us that we cannot claim these places as our right without understanding the nature of our livelihood. If a secretariat were to be built here, our increased existence would make it difficult.”

VR Vijayan, Maylai Pagudhi Anaithu Meenava Grama Panchayat Sabhai said that more than 1,500 families belonging to the fishing community would have nowhere to go if the complex is built there.

The land earmarked for the secretariat belonged to Sindhanai community leader Sirpi Singaravelar, who donated it to the communities. “We demand that the land be returned to us,” he said.

On Tuesday, representatives of 140 villages from Tiruvallur to Chengalpattu will meet and pass a resolution against the government’s decision and also plan the next course of action.

Published – 10 Sep 2026 0:57 AM IST