‘Blue economy’ or ‘sea grab’? | Fishers, residents question the cost of coastal projects in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu at Ennore public hearing

From children affected by contamination of the Kosasthalaiyar river to concerns over the proposed Mamallan reservoir, members of coastal communities and activists alleged that projects undertaken under the “blue economy” model were affecting livelihoods and coastal ecosystems.

These concerns were raised at the two-day public hearing session organised by the Neithaliyal Collective in Ennore with activist Nityanand Jayaraman, where fishers and residents from Tiruvallur, Chennai, Chengalpattu, and Villupuram presented testimonies before a three-member panel of fisher activist Fatima Babu, filmmaker Gopi Nainar, and coastal activist Jesu Rathinam.

Subhashini, a resident of Periyakuppam in Ennore, alleged that untreated effluents from industrial units and medical facilities were being discharged into the Kosasthalaiyar river, contaminating the water and causing health problems, including wheezing. “Pregnant women are exposed to it,” she charged.

Saraswathi of Choonambedu in Chengalpattu district and Mohan of Marakkanam in Villupuram district opposed the ₹342.60-crore Mamallan reservoir project, alleging it would damage salt marshes and marine breeding grounds, affecting the livelihoods of traditional fishers and salt pan workers who depend on the estuarine ecosystem.

Mullai, a resident of Nochikuppam, alleged that the Blue Flag certification project at Marina Beach had reduced fishing space, affecting the livelihoods of several fishers.

Speakers also said that projects such as ports and power plants in Ennore and Kattupalli, shrimp aquaculture, seafood processing units, desalination plants, and road expansion had affected the work and lives of coastal communities. They claimed that this pushed people into insecure employment in ports, industries, aquaculture, and seafood export units, citing the recent ammonia leak at the seafood export unit in Tiruvallur that cost the lives of 18 women workers.

Bagath Singh of the Neithaliyal Collective said it is time to look at environmental issues from the perspectives of fisherfolk and marine lives.