Chief Minister M.K. Stalin inaugurated a new fish market on Marina Loop Road near Nochikuppam on Monday. The facility, developed by the Greater Chennai Corporation at a cost of Rs 9.97 crore, features 366 stalls, with 332 allocated to local fish vendors based on a 2019 enumeration.
Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner J. Kumaragurubaran revealed that there have been requests to increase the number of stalls from 366 to 500 to accommodate vendors who feel they have been left out. To address this, an additional enumeration will be conducted to assess the needs of other vendors in the area. Kumaragurubaran also mentioned the possibility of utilizing nearby corporation-owned land to construct a second market complex if necessary. The corporation is in the process of awarding contracts for the operation and maintenance of the market. The market’s construction was undertaken following a court directive to remove encroachments by fish vendors along Marina Loop Road. The new facility boasts a dedicated fish cleaning area, a parking lot with space for over 100 cars, an effluent treatment plant, toilets, and drinking water facilities.
Despite the market’s completion, the project faced significant opposition from the local fishing community. Last year, a group of fishermen protested, arguing that the construction proceeded without proper consultation and did not adequately reflect their needs. K. Bharathi, President of the South Indian Fisheries Welfare Association, announced that a meeting with local fishing communities will be held on Tuesday evening to discuss concerns, including rent, maintenance, and stall allocation. Bharathi emphasized that official communication regarding the market’s rent structure has not yet been received.
SOURCE: THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS
