Tamil Nadu considers alternative sites for Pattinapakkam Secretariat

The Tamil Nadu government is reportedly reconsidering the location for its proposed Rs 1,200-crore Secretariat-cum-Assembly complex in Pattinapakkam. Following a meeting chaired by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, officials are examining alternative sites along the East Coast Road due to widespread opposition.

The project, which would cover approximately 25.5 acres, has faced criticism from various political parties and local residents. Fishing communities have expressed concerns regarding their livelihoods and sea access.

Simultaneously, local fishermen have formally contested the government's claim to the land. They assert that the 25.52-acre plot at Pattinapakkam Foreshore Estate is ancestral property rather than government land. Citing records from a 1956-57 slum clearance and improvement scheme, community leaders claim the land was originally intended for the rehabilitation of displaced fishermen. While the government previously identified the site as land owned by the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, residents are gathering documentation to establish ownership and reclaim the plot.