CPI Urges Tamil Nadu Government to Abandon Coastal Secretariat Plan
The CPI has launched a campaign urging the Tamil Nadu government to cancel the coastal secretariat project due to environmental and livelihood concerns.
Chennai, October 25 (Daily Kiran) : The Communist Party of India (CPI) has intensified its opposition to the proposed Tamil Nadu Secretariat in Pattinapakkam, launching a signature campaign on Sunday. The party is calling for the project to be scrapped, citing concerns over the livelihoods of fishermen and the coastal environment.
Supporting the ruling TVK government, the CPI has urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to select an alternative site for the administrative complex and to protect the traditional rights of fishing communities on coastal land.
M. Veerapandian, the state secretary of the CPI, emphasized that the party, along with other leftist and democratic forces, has consistently opposed the idea of establishing a secretariat near Marina Beach. The campaign, led by district secretary Shiva and constituency secretary Mary Divya, seeks public support to cancel the Foreshore Estate project.
Veerapandian stressed the need to respect the relationship between coastal communities and their environment. He pointed out that fishermen live and work in harmony with the sea, asserting that their long-standing connection to the coast should guide decisions about land use in the region.
Drawing parallels with communities in hilly areas, he argued that displacing fishermen from their ancestral environment would harm their livelihoods and damage the coastal landscape. He noted that their connection to the coast is integral to their daily lives and work.
The CPI leader also raised concerns about the environmental impact of constructing a government complex on the beach. He described such construction as an “attack on nature,” insisting that beaches should remain open public spaces. He argued that this type of development contradicts global environmental concerns.
Veerapandian dismissed suggestions that suitable alternative sites are unavailable, pointing to the land at the racecourse, where 120 acres are reportedly available. He urged the government to reassess existing locations for the proposed complex, advocating for a solution that avoids displacing people rather than accepting the coastal site as unavoidable.
By demanding a government order to cancel the proposal, the CPI is applying pressure on the project’s decision-making process. The signature campaign consolidates the party’s objections regarding coastal livelihoods, environmental issues, and public space usage, while reiterating its call for an alternative location.
