Dirty water and maggots turn Chennai's premier fishing harbour into a liability

Kasimedu harbour's hygiene crisis drives down fish prices, erodes export potential

Fish from Kasimedu fishing harbour commands lower prices than catches from Cuddalore or Nagapattinam, and exporters have largely stayed away from what should be Chennai's premier landing centre. The problem is not the quality of the catch but the abysmal state of cleanliness and hygiene at the sprawling facility, according to harbour users.

Maggots, black water and absent drains

A video showing maggots forming on blood near the fish cutting line recently circulated on social media, drawing attention to the sanitation breakdown. "If the waste blood from cut fish is not removed quickly, maggots form. There are no proper drains to carry and treat such liquid wastes," a fisherman said.

The harbour water itself has turned black, and dredging has not been carried out in years, fishermen say. "We are forced to sell our catch at lower prices than even Cuddalore or Nagapattinam due to lack of cleanliness. The water is black and the harbour has not been dredged in ages. We wash the fish in the same water," a fisherman pointed out.

Fish waste from city markets compounds the stench

A boat owner said that fish wastes from markets across the city are being brought to Kasimedu, where they are processed and sent to companies for use in the cosmetic industry. The practice has made conditions worse for those working at the harbour. "The waste raises such a stink that just crossing the location leaves the stench on our clothes. Though complaints have been filed with the local police, the Chennai Port's harbour management committee and fisheries AD, no action has been initiated against these people," a fisherman said.

Infrastructure gaps and unclear authority

The internal roads at the harbour are not properly paved and connected, while the road outside has huge potholes. There is no drinking water supply because the overhead tank is still under construction, and only a small portion of a drain has been completed, community leader Nanjil Ravi pointed out.

According to a retired Fisheries Department official, nobody knows who wields control over the harbour. Most of it, except the auction halls, comes under the purview of the State government, while the rest falls under the Chennai Port Trust and the management committee.

"Fishermen want a clinic with a doctor and medicines and a fire station for emergencies. We don't know whom to complain about lack of hygiene. There is so much progress in every field but for the fishing industry, especially in Chennai. Each time a new government comes, some harbour improvement project will be implemented but unless all stakeholders come together and something is done, the harbour will remain just as dirty," the retired official said.

Corporation efforts welcomed but continuity needed

Fishermen welcomed the measures undertaken by the Greater Chennai Corporation, which has provided new baskets to replace thermacol boxes and conducted cleanliness drives. "It should be done on a regular basis," a boat owner said.

Source: The Hindu