Stalin urges CM Vijay to drop Pattinapakkam Secretariat plan

DMK president M.K. Stalin has urged Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay to withdraw the decision to construct a new Legislative Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam in Chennai.
In a statement, Stalin said the proposed project could affect the livelihood and residential areas of fishermen in the locality.
He said fishermen’s associations had met him at Anna Arivalayam seeking the DMK’s support against the project.
Stalin said the DMK would stand with the fishing community in its protests and demanded that the government withdraw the decision to construct the complex at the proposed site. He said the Omandurar Government Estate, which was originally built for Secretariat use, could be considered as an alternative. The Omandurar complex is currently functioning as a government super-speciality hospital.
Stalin also raised concerns over traffic congestion and the presence of several schools and residential settlements around the proposed site. He said fishermen living in nearby areas should not be displaced or deprived of land meant for their housing and livelihood needs.
The Tamil Nadu government has given in-principle approval for a new Assembly-cum-Secretariat complex at Pattinapakkam at an estimated cost of Rs. 1,200 crore.
The proposed complex is planned on about 25.55 acres, with around 20 lakh square feet of built-up area.
Stalin demanded that the government withdraw the order and instead provide housing facilities for fishermen in the area. He warned that the DMK would join the fishermen in a larger protest if the government proceeded with the project.