Tamil Nadu - Chennai   

Fisheries building demolished

— Photo: K.Pichumani

The demolition of the building in progress.

CHENNAI: A nearly 60-year-old building of the Fisheries Department on Poonamallee High Road, next to the Chetpet Lake, is being demolished.

The building, near Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, housed the only research facility of the Fisheries Department in the city and the office of the Assistant Director (Research) and an aquaculture laboratory until last year.

A plaque in the building read that the foundation stone for hydrobiological laboratory was laid in May, 1947 by the then Member for Food and Agriculture Rajendra Prasad. Officials of the department said the demolition, which began on Monday, has been necessitated in view of its decrepit condition.

The office and the laboratory have been shifted to another building of the department next to it, which was constructed last year. The Chetpet lake, which is a vital lung space of the city, and the buildings have got a better visibility after the hoardings that obstructed the view were pulled down.

The waterbody, which is spread across about two hectares, is being used for fish culture by the department. Several varieties of fish were bred in the lake and sold to the markets.

A Fisheries Department official said that it was the only research facility in the city and the fresh water aquaculture lab tested the water and soil samples for fish culture. These samples are tested for a nominal rate of Rs.20 each for the benefit of the farmers. The plaque in the old building would be retained in the new building as a souvenir.

The fish species that prey on the mosquito larvae are supplied from the office to Chennai Corporation and also to the residents to eradicate mosquitoes.

To a query on the possibility of the Fisheries Department land being given to the Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, the department officials said that there was no such proposal as the area adjoining the lake was being used for research facility.

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