Fishermen oppose Metro Rail works on Marina beach

Representatives of South Indian Fishermen’s Welfare Association met the State Coastal Regulation Zone Authority officials and handed over a petition.

“As per the CRZ notification, a local mapping should be done to demarcate spaces for fishing activities, residential space for fishermen and other needs. However, it has not been done till now to safeguard the interest of traditional fishermen,” said its president K Bharathi.

He also alleged that the authority was issuing clearances to construction activities on the beach without local area map. Alleging that Metro Rail was conducting works near beach without CRZ clearance, he said it should stop it and also the work on Marina Loop Road.

Metro Rail had recently prepared a detailed project report for its second phase which passes through the beach, for which soil tests are ongoing.

The association has also pointed out that despite repeated representations in 2014, the authority had accorded clearance to lay Loop Road without a local mapping in place.