A plan to temporarily relocate the city’s fish market on East Boulevard Road by Tiruchi Corporation to a space opposite to Viscountess Goschen Government Muslim Girls Higher Secondary School (VGGMGHSS) in Tharanallur has run into opposition from locals. Mooted as part of the Corporation’s redevelopment project under the smart cities mission, the century-old fish market is to be demolished and reconstructed as a double-storey structure with cold storage facilities. Fish vendors in the existing market will be expected to function from a yard earmarked opposite the Goschen School, while the new building gets ready. However, the announcement has not gone down well with residents in the area, particularly from the 111-year-old VGGMGHSS, that is one of two State Government-run institutions (along with Government Hobart Higher Secondary School in Chennai) dedicated to the education of Muslim girls. “We already have a major traffic management problem due to our proximity to Gandhi Market. Many transport companies park their heavy vehicles outside our gate, making it difficult for students to enter the campus.
Besides this, the strong smell of the karuvattu pettai [dried fish market], especially during their stock loading days, has already affected air quality in our neighbourhood. Now, a fresh fish market will only add to our problems,” Khaja Mydeen, president, Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) of VGGGMHS, told The Hindu . The PTA has also given a petition to the authorities, said Mr. Mydeen. Besides the school, the Sri Bhoologanathar Temple and a ‘paalvadi’ (elementary school) are also located in the vicinity, locals point out. A senior official of Tiruchi Corporation toldThe Hindu that the relocation project had been put on hold momentarily. “A proposal was drawn up but it is yet to be approved. Since then, we have had a new Corporation Commissioner take charge. We will apprise him of the details and will make a decision soon,” they said. “We have taken into account the complaints of the nearby residents and other stakeholders and will also provide information on this to the Commissioner,” they added.
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