Chennai, Sept 10:
AMMK general secretary T.T.V. Dhinakaran has urged the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider its decision to establish the proposed new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam, saying the location could cause problems for residents and affect the livelihood of the local fishing community.
The government has issued an order selecting Pattinapakkam as the site for the new Secretariat following Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s announcement under Rule 110 in the Assembly that a new Secretariat would be established in Chennai.
Dhinakaran said there was a genuine need for a modern Secretariat because of space constraints at the existing Secretariat at Fort St George and the increasing number of government employees. However, he argued that a location that could affect the public and the livelihood of fishermen should not be selected in haste.
He pointed out that Pattinapakkam is already a densely populated residential area with narrow roads and traffic congestion. He said there would be limited scope for expanding roads and other infrastructure in the future. Establishment of the Secretariat, he added, could therefore increase traffic congestion and affect the daily lives of residents.
Dhinakaran also pointed to the presence of schools, colleges, churches and other important establishments in the area, which attract thousands of students and members of the public every day. With ministers, MLAs, government officials and visitors expected to travel regularly to the new Secretariat, he said, traffic and security-related issues could arise.
He further said members of the fishing community had been claiming that the land identified for the project had traditionally been used by them and had been seeking its return. Proceeding with the project without properly hearing their grievances would affect their livelihood and economic interests, he claimed.
Dhinakaran questioned the urgency with which the site had been selected, particularly when, according to him, government orders had not yet been issued for several other projects announced under Rule 110.
He also criticised the government for announcing the project under Rule 110 without allowing a detailed discussion with the Opposition and alleged that the hurried selection of the site reflected an authoritarian approach.
Dhinakaran urged the government to identify an alternative location after considering adequate space, scope for future expansion, better transport connectivity and the likely impact on residents and fishermen.