Reduce number of shops on Marina Beach, HC tells Corporation

Expressing shock at the opening of more than 1,400 shops on the Marina beach, the Madras High Court on Friday suggested that the number could be reduced significantly if the sale of only edible food, toys, luxury items and souvenirs was allowed and not any other items.

A bench of Justices R. Suresh Kumar and AD Jagadish Chandira gave time till January 8 to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) to submit a revised draft plan on the number and nature of shops that would be allowed on the beach.

Considering that the Gulf Cooperation Council proposed to create three blue flag areas along the entire coast and prevent street vendors in these areas, the judges suggested that another blue flag area could be created in a huge area of ​​​​approximately 35 decares where stray cattle graze behind the mausoleums of various leaders.

The judges noted that the Gulf Cooperation Council Commissioner, J. Kumaragurubaran, welcomed their suggestion to create another blue flag area during a personal inspection conducted by them on December 22 and also stated that one of the blue flag areas had already been established by providing facilities such as a playground for children, armchairs and reclining chairs for the elderly, and creating a bamboo fence around the area.

During the inspection, judges expressed concern about allowing a large number of shops on the beach behind the worker statue, about 280 meters from the service road towards the tidal zone. In a report submitted to the court on Friday, the Gulf Cooperation Council said a store census map created through drone survey identified 1,980 stores located on the beach. However, Chief Public Prosecutor PS Raman told the court that the actual number of stores was only 1,417.

Judges said the nature of shops that could be permitted on the Marina beach could be restricted because the beach was merely a recreational area and not a shopping mall or arcade.