A year after the bustling fish market at Nadukuppam was burnt down amid the jallikattu violence in the city, a new facility is likely to be completed soon.
The Greater Chennai Corporation will soon complete the construction of the market that will have space for 110 shops. The work, initially estimated to cost ₹59 lakh covering 2,500 sq. ft, has been completed. Now another 2,500 sq. ft. is being added along with ramps and grilles at an additional cost of ₹38 lakh.
“These facilities are being added based on the requests from local residents. We have also provided water and toilets,” said a civic official. The Fisheries Department had drawn up an estimate for the reconstruction of the market before the market was burnt down.
While fishermen are happy about getting a new market, the incidents that occurred during the Marina mass protest continue to haunt them.
“Even today if a crowd gathers here, I rush inside my home,” said V. Rani, a fish vendor.
Unforeseen events
She recalled how the protesters had come running to their locality after the police forced them to leave the Marina. “Some of them were injured and bleeding, so we gave them first aid and water. After that the police came to our locality looking for them and accused us of shielding ‘anti-social elements.’ Things had turned violent by then,” she alleged.
“But what followed was something we didn’t foresee,” said Parameshwari, another vendor. A few hours later, the fish market was burnt down and the day’s catch destroyed. “I had bought fish worth around ₹50,000 that day. Nothing remained,” said Kokila, one of the vendors who lost her stall in the fire.
Those who worked in the market predominantly hailed from Nadukuppam and Ayodhya Nagar near the beach. The loss of the market hit them hard. The vendors said that surviving the following months was an ordeal.
The State government then provided them an alternative facility near the market, by the road, and the fishermen and sellers received monetary compensation. However, this addressed their issues only to a certain extent.
“We don’t get many customers at these shops. Also there is a lot of vehicle movement and this discourages people from coming here. We are eagerly looking forward to the opening of the new place,” said Parameshwari.
(With inputs from Deepa H. Ramakrishnan)
