Reports from Chennai say Chief Minister Vijay has directed that the government order (GO) issued for constructing a new Secretariat at Pattinapakkam be cancelled.
The proposed project was planned on 25.5 acres of land said to belong to the Housing Department, Revenue Department and the Greater Chennai Corporation. The state had earlier decided to build a fully equipped Secretariat complex of about 20 lakh sq ft at an estimated cost of Rs 1,200 crore, and a GO was issued on the 8th through Public Department Secretary Sundaravalli.
Fisherfolk in the area opposed the plan, saying the construction would affect their livelihood. Several political parties, including the DMK, AIADMK, CPI and CPM, also raised objections to the project.
A case challenging the proposed construction has been filed in the Supreme Court. With opposition intensifying, the Chief Minister is said to have decided to drop the plan and has instructed the Public Department Secretary to revoke the earlier GO.
The report also says he has asked officials to issue a fresh GO with details of a new site selected for the Secretariat.
