Chennai fisherfolk protest proposed New Secretariat project

Fisherfolk from several coastal villages in Chennai held an emergency consultation meeting at Pattinapakkam beach to protest the Tamil Nadu government’s plan to construct a ‘New Secretariat’. The proposed project is slated for the Mullikuppam and Mullimanagar areas of Mylapore, which the community identifies as ancestral lands.

Protesters hoisted black flags on fishing boats and along the beach to signal their opposition. The community expressed concerns that the development would infringe upon ancestral residential rights and disrupt traditional livelihoods, including fishing, net weaving, drying fish, and boat parking.

Kosu Mani, President of the Tamil Nadu Fisherman People Association, questioned why the government is pursuing the project in a fishing zone, noting that the Chief Minister previously halted the Parandur Airport plan to protect farmers. Mani also highlighted potential infrastructure strain, noting that the area already faces heavy traffic with limited road access.