Tamil Nadu: Fisherfolk to boycott govt meeting on proposed Secretariat in Pattinapakkam

Fisherfolk panchayat representatives from the Mylapore and Triplicane areas near Chennai announced on Monday, November 2, that they have decided to boycott a consultation meeting on the proposed new Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex at Pattinapakkam, citing the lack of formal written invitations to all affected fishing villages.The consultation meeting is scheduled to be held at the District Collectorate at 10 am on November 3. The representatives said they would not participate as the authorities had not issued proper written invitations to all the affected village panchayats.“The decision was taken unanimously at a fisherfolk village panchayat meeting held on November 1,” the statement said.In a letter addressed to the Assistant Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare Department, the representatives said only a few panchayat members known to the department had been informed about the meeting over the phone.“The government's failure to formally invite all affected villages to a meeting on a project that has significant implications for fishing communities means a negligent approach to our concerns,” they said.The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led state government’s proposed Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex at Pattinapakkam, also known as Foreshore Estate, has faced opposition from fishing communities in the neighbourhood.They fear that the security arrangements required for a high-security government complex could restrict routine fishing activities, including the time available for fishermen to go to sea and return and could also disrupt spaces where the fish are bought and sold.Lands and livelihoods under threat: Why Pattinapakkam fishers are protesting TN’s new Secretariat However, the representatives clarified that they welcomed consultations on the proposed project and said they could not attend the November 3 meeting without a proper written invitation.They have also urged the government to ensure that all village panchayats in the areas receive formal written invitations for any future consultations related to the project.“Listening to the concerns of the affected people is true democracy. We are always ready to participate in meetings conducted with proper invitations to everyone,” the representatives said.Fisherfolk have also raised concerns about traffic congestion along the coastal stretch, which already experiences heavy vehicular movement, particularly during peak hours.They have demanded the immediate withdrawal of GO 564, issued on September 8, approving the proposal. They have also called for Pattinapakkam to be recognised as traditional residential land belonging to the neighbourhood’s fishing communities.Estimated at around Rs 1,200 crore with 25.55 acres, the government has said that the detailed project report (DPR) is still being prepared and that the project remains at a preliminary stage.