Chennai, Feb 25 – Coastal tensions escalate as fishermen vow a dramatic stand. Spanning 12 villages from Triplicane’s Ayodhya Kuppam to Santhome’s Srinivasapuram, locals will create a human chain on Marina Beach this February 2. Their grievances: expansion of the elite Blue Flag certification project and a rope car installation.
Leaders from affected hamlets convened recently, decrying livelihood erosions. Blue Flag aims for pristine, tourist-friendly beaches, but at what cost? Fishermen have relocated boats before, only to lose more ground to barriers. ‘Sewage already hampers fishing; now parking for our 30 boats vanishes,’ laments Ayodhya Kuppam resident Selvaraj.
Beachside commerce hangs in balance. Over 2,000 families rely on Marina and Loop Road stalls. Proposals to cap shops at 300 ignite fury: ‘Provide alternatives first,’ pleads a female vendor. Community head K. Bharati calls out double standards – municipal bamboo structures proliferate while fishermen’s needs are curbed.
The protest demands a halt and talks. ‘Development mustn’t trample rights,’ they argue. Traditional practices – docking, drying nets, selling catch – define these villages. Without protections, full eviction looms, severing generational ties to the sea.
As Chennai eyes tourism booms, this clash underscores deeper divides. Will authorities engage, offering viable relocations? Or will February 2 mark a breaking point for the city’s fishing folklore?