GCC’s plan for Blue Flag beaches faces pushback

Representatives of the fishing community from 26 villages, who met on Saturday evening at Thiruvanmiyur Kuppam, condemned the Greater Chennai Corporation’s proposal to develop Blue Flag beaches at five spots along the coast.

At the meeting convened by the Then Chennai Panchayathu Kootamaippu (Federation of South Chennai Fishing Panchayats) and Meenava Makkal Vaazhvu Urimai Paadhukappu Oringinaippu Kuzhu (Committee to Safeguard the Livelihoods of Fisherfolk), Karunakaran of Thiruvanmiyur Kuppam said that projects like the Blue Flag beach would only lead to a loss of livelihood. “We cannot use our big nets that are spread out and drawn by some 100 men at a time. Nor can we dry fishes, as the open spaces that we use for these purposes are being taken over for government projects,” he said, condemning the proposed elevated corridor by the Highways Department.

N. Rathinavel, a community leader, said the Central and State governments had been drawing up plans for projects along the coast, and this would only lead to problems like coastal erosion. “We want the entire coast to be declared a protected area. Unnecessary construction should not be taken up here. At this rate, we do not know where our future generations, who take up fishing, will live. We need a long-time housing plan for fishing villages.”

K. Bharathi, another community leader, said the fishermen were not consulted on any of these projects, though they were one of the most important stakeholders. “During cyclones and rough seas, most villages lack the space to store nets and boats safely. Fishermen are forced to put them away on roads. These lands are classified as Coastal Regulation Zone 1A, which are areas that are ecologically sensitive and feature mangroves, reefs, and sand dunes,” he said.