KOLLAM: The move by the Kollam Municipal Corporation to construct a private bus stand at Tangasseri in the land owned by the fishing harbour, has stirred up a controversy. The Corporation authorities had conducted the preliminary work of land survey near the base of the fishing harbour the other day. The authorities starting the work without obtaining proper sanction from the Harbour Department had triggered the controversy. The Corporation had asked for an acre of the land owned by the fishing harbour for constructing the private bus stand, but no decision had been taken on it so far, according to sources in the fishing harbour. It is pointed out that environment clearance was needed for any construction work near the fishing harbour base and no construction should be done without the sanction of the Union Environment Department. The Coastal Zone Regulation Act stipulates that no building construction should be allowed near the harbour as it will increase chances of water pollution. If constructed, the Department should conduct pollution test at least once in three months. It is feared that the construction of bus stand will increase pollution-level in the sea when the oil from the vehicles mix with water.
The sources in the fishing harbour told ‘Express’ that the permission for a playground for the fishermen had been denied by the Department for the same reasons. It is also pointed out that the sound pollution generated by the bus stand would be threat to the peace and tranquility of the park being constructed near to the fishing harbour as part of a tourism project. When contacted, Mayor N. Padmalochanan told ‘Express’ that the preliminary work has begun with permission. According to him, sanction is not needed for the construction of the bus stand. The bus stand is constructed by the Corporation with the MLA fund, which can be utilised only on public land.The tourism project, including the park and the walk way, were also constructed on the land owned by the fishing harbour. Moreover, the proposed bus stand is intended for the benefit of fishermen also, he said.
