Chennai: City fishermen have opposed construction of a modern wholesale fish market at Kotturpuram along Adyar riverbanks to sell fish exported from other states alleging that works were undertaken without getting coastal regulatory zone clearance.
To keep check on fish prices, Greater Chennai Corporation had taken up construction of the wholesale market at a cost of Rs 8 crore. “Corporation which should remove the encroachments and protect and maintain the waterways itself has encroached Adyar waterway. Without getting permission from Tamil Nadu State Coastal Zone Management Authority, construction work is underway on the land falling under high tide line of CRZ II. We request the civic body to immediately stop the work and to retrieve the waterway,” K. Bharathi, president, South India Fishermen Welfare Association, said in a petition to H. Malleshappa, member secretary of TNSCZMA and director of environment.
However, a corporation official said there was no violation in the construction but refused to comment on not getting “TNSCZMA clearance”. The official said the market construction was taken up to keep prices of fish low and ensure adequate availability of fish.
“Prices of fish went up after decline in availability of fish in the market in the recent past. Fish were brought from Kerala and Andhra Pradesh to meet the demand here,” the official said adding 68 stalls would be constructed on 10 acres on Canal Bank Road to sell fish brought from other states.
