Fishermen seek permanent shops on Loop Road

“The officials have proposed an annual charge of Rs. 1,500 for shops erected on 24 sqft space and Rs. 3,000 for 48 sqft. We have demanded the civic body to reduced annual charge. Apart from this, we have to pay Rs. 100 per month as cleaning charges,” a vendor, who had participated in the meeting said. The vendors also said that the Chennai Corporation has proposed to reduce the number of shops from over 1,900 to 1,544 by allowing one shop for one family. “However, we demand the officials not to reduce the number of shops. We hope that the Corporation will maintain the numbers of shops,” the vendor added.

Meanwhile, fish vendors on Marina Loop Road expressed discontent over the Corporation’s decision to build a temporary fish market using zinc sheets.

“Fish is an easily perishable commodity. But the officials are proposing a temporary market using zinc sheets, which would conduct heat. We need permanent fish shops on the eastern side of the Loop Road,” K Bharathi, president, South India Fishermen Welfare Association, said.

When the fisheries department officials, who participated in the meeting explained that the proposal to build permanent structure on the sands was rejected by the Coastal Regulation Zone Authority, the fishermen urged the department to send a new proposal as CRZ allows livelihood of fishermen along the coast.

“We will inform the suggestions given by the vendors to the Madras High Court that is hearing a case regarding the regulation of vendors in Marina,” a senior Corporation official said.