Hundreds of fishermen protest against Secretariat proposal at Foreshore Estate
Hundreds of fishermen and women from Chennai’s coastal hamlets rallied near Srinivasapuram on Tuesday, voicing strong opposition to the State government’s proposal to build a new Secretariat at Foreshore Estate. Fisherfolk from 64 villages spanning Tiruvallur to Chengalpattu said they were pinning their hopes on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to withdraw the government order (G.O.) authorising the project, insisting the plan threatens their livelihoods and access to the coast.
Protest at Srinivasapuram
Residents from multiple fishing villages marched silently from their homes to the protest venue, where black flags planted in the sands signalled the community’s disquiet. Leaders took turns addressing the gathering, urging the government to reconsider the site selection and warning that the coastal community’s fragile livelihood chain — from landing the catch to unloading and selling — would be severely disrupted by a high-security administrative complex in the middle of their working shorefront.
“We won’t have any freedom to carry on with our lives or unload our fish near the sands,” said community leader Kabaddi Maran, summing up fears that routine fishing operations would be curtailed by restricted access, surveillance and the physical footprint of a major government facility.
Appeal to the Chief Minister
Speakers repeatedly appealed to the Chief Minister to intervene and identify an alternative site. Community leader K. Bharathi, who has been spearheading the movement against the project, referenced remarks by Minister Aadhav Arjuna to underscore their expectation of relief. According to Mr. Bharathi, the Minister had said that if asked to choose between fishermen and the Secretariat, the Chief Minister would naturally opt for the welfare of the fishing community.
“We are hoping that the current proposal would be dropped and an alternative land would be chosen for the secretariat,” Mr. Bharathi said, adding that the protesters believed the Chief Minister had their interests at heart.
Key demands and longstanding grievances
Beyond opposing the Secretariat plan at Foreshore Estate, community leaders used the protest to highlight older grievances over land and housing. They asked the State government to return lands that they say originally belonged to fishermen but were taken over and repurposed as housing for government staff — many of which were subsequently demolished.
“Many of those buildings were demolished several years ago. There were several proposals including construction of a large complex. The land on which All India Radio stands today belonged to Nochikuppam,” said community leader Roobesh, pointing to what the community regards as a historical pattern of dispossession along the coast.
Viji of Srinivasapuram, another organiser who helped bring residents together for the demonstration, pressed for a comprehensive rebuilding of dilapidated tenements. He said fishermen have long demanded that around 10,000 Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board tenements in their neighbourhoods be demolished and reconstructed. Some of these buildings date back to the tenure of former Chief Minister K. Kamaraj and the 1970s, he noted, adding that they have seen virtually no maintenance since the 2004 tsunami.
“We also want the government to construct homes for non-fishermen who live amongst us in these villages,” Viji said, framing the demand as a community-wide need that spans occupational groups sharing the same precarious coastal settlements.
Why Foreshore Estate is a flashpoint
Foreshore Estate and its neighbouring hamlets, including Pattinapakkam and Srinivasapuram, function as active working beaches where boats land, nets are mended and the day’s catch is sorted and moved to markets. Fisherfolk say any large, security-heavy government complex would constrict the already limited coastal space they use for essential daily activities. Leaders at the rally argued that the proposed construction would amplify pressures on a shoreline already battling erosion, crowding and inadequate housing infrastructure.
Government signals and community expectations
While calling for the government order to be withdrawn, protesters cited Minister Aadhav Arjuna’s assurance about prioritising fishermen’s welfare as a sign that their concerns would be heard. They urged authorities to formally drop the Foreshore Estate plan and identify an alternative site that would not displace or disrupt coastal livelihoods.
What’s next
As of Tuesday, leaders said they remained confident the Chief Minister would intervene to protect the community’s interests. They reiterated that the movement’s core asks are twofold: abandon the Foreshore Estate site for the new Secretariat and address long-pending housing and land issues in the fishing villages from Tiruvallur to Chengalpattu.
Conclusion
The Srinivasapuram protest crystallised growing opposition among coastal residents to the proposed Secretariat at Foreshore Estate. With black flags fluttering on the sand and a silent march underscoring the community’s resolve, fisherfolk and their leaders framed the issue as one of survival and dignity — a plea for development that does not come at the expense of livelihoods, access to the beach and long-neglected housing needs.
