Bhatkal protest against new fish market; A memorandum given to the AC to restore the old market

Bhatkal: Fishermen and fisherwomen from across the town joined a protest rally against the construction of new fish market and the administration's request to the fish vendors to shift their businesses to the new market, on Tuesday January, 31.

The rally that marched from the existing fish market to the Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner's office was joined by hundreds of fisherwomen, demanding the repairing of the existing fish market and urging the administration to not ask them to shift their business to the new market.

 

The protesters cited that their business will see downfall in case they shift the fish market and that it will effect their livelihood.

The protesters submitted a memorandum to the Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner through Bhatkal Assistant Commissioner and urged him to immediately take a call on this and assist them in retaining their businesses here at the existing market.

The memorandum further added that the new market is located at a isolated location, away from the city which will fail to attract customers and will result in loss to the fish vendors.

In the absence of Assistant Commissioner, one of his office staff received the memorandum and assured of forwarding it to the Deputy commissioner for further action.

President of Fish vendor's association Khaja Hassan, Jailaani Shiroor, Shrinivas Kharvi and other officials of the association were present during the protest.

Notably, a new fish market with high-tech facilities was recently inaugurated by the District in-charge minister RV Deshpande, late in 2018 near Bhatkal Taluka  Government hospital on Sunday market road, after which the administration had been urging fish vendors to Shift their businesses to the new market, which received severe backlash from the fish vendors and hence the protests.