Loop Road fish market 95% ready, to be opened by June end: Corpn
Even as the civic body prepares procedures for the allocation, fishermen claim their livelihood is at stake if moved from roadside stalls near the Marina beach
CHENNAI: A senior official of the Greater Chennai Corporation has said that the fish market at Marina Loop Road will be inaugurated next month and that almost 95 per cent of construction works have been completed so far. The official stated that once allotment of shops are completed, it will be opened for public use.
“Construction work is almost over. The roof of the market, drains, and fish effluent to bio-digest conversion facilities are also ready. Works of electricity connection, and parking space are expected to be completed within 10 days” said a senior official with the Chennai Corporation.
Rs 9 crore was allocated for the fish market construction and works commenced in April 2023. The local body has given an additional fund of Rs 4 crore for the construction of the compound wall and toilet. The Corporation authorities have already prepared a list of fishermen from the nearby hamlets including Pattinampakkam, Srinivasapuram and Nochikuppam to occupy the fish stalls. The official updated that there will be a discussion with the fishermen soon over the issue of allocation.
However, the fishermen lamented that if they were shifted to the new fish market their business would be hit and would be forced to pay rent and taxes, which they claimed as unaffordable. “The Corporation officials are yet to conduct a discussion on shifting the shops to the newly constructed market. We are unable to express our opinion and are against the decision of the government if they urge us to pay rent and other charges because the market has been constructed on the land owned by the fishermen,” said K Bharathi, a fisherman at Nochikuppam.