Fishermen in Keechankuppam, situated in Ward 36 of Nagapattinam Municipality, have urged the government to construct a community hall in the tsunami rehabilitation settlement of Vyasarnagar.
The Indian National Fishermen Union, led by R.M.P. Rajendra Nattar, has petitioned Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, highlighting the long-pending demand for a dedicated community space.
Keechankuppam, one of the worst-hit villages in the 2004 tsunami, lacks a proper community hall. Despite government assurances and NGO efforts, rehabilitation projects remain incomplete. In 2021, the State government identified land for the project, with the Nagapattinam Municipality assuring fund allocation. However, work was yet to begin.
The locality, under Ward 36 of Nagapattinam Municipality, lacks a Primary Health Centre (PHC). Mr. Nattar pointed out that residents must travel to Orathur Government Hospital or the town’s PHC, made harder by ongoing Akkaraipettai overbridge construction. “There are over 1,000 houses and 5,000 residents in Keechankuppam. Without a community hall, fishermen are forced to rent expensive private venues for social events. A dedicated hall would serve as a meeting point for fisherfolk,” he said.
Sources in the municipality confirmed that a proposal had been submitted, awaiting allocation of funds.
Published – February 04, 2025 06:20 pm IST