KOCHI: The Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) on Friday issued a statement saying that no Chinese fishing nets in the Fort Kochi area would be taken down for building the boat jetty in connection with the water metro project. KMRL has also decided to reduce one berth in the boat jetty for ensuring the preservation of these nets, the official spokesperson of KMRL said.
“There have been reports alleging that KMRL is removing the Chinese nets for building the jetty in Fort Kochi. Locations for water metro jetties were selected considering public utility, accessibility and complete multi-model integration. KMRL is always committed to minimising the social impact and safeguarding the cultural and aesthetic values of Fort Kochi,” said the statement.
A meeting with Chinese net owners, in the presence of K J Maxi MLA and the Kochi Corporation Standing Committee chairperson and Fort Kochi councillor Shiny Mathew, at the KMRL office on May 10 had assured the net owners that the nets would be retained at the same location.