Hatton town witnessed a tense situation today (28) after a shop opened to sell fish and poultry without official approval from the Municipal Council.

Local fishmongers gathered at the scene, saying they could not allow another fishmonger to operate in the city centre without proper permission.

The new shop also displayed a variety of other food items for sale.

The Municipal Council had called for tenders to run a fish shop in a council-owned building in 2026, which was won by a local fishmonger for Rs. 1.2 million.

Nearby shop owners warned that opening a fish shop in the city centre could cause significant environmental damage.

In response, Hatton Police, the Public Health Inspector of the Hatton Dickoya Municipal Council, and the Revenue Administrator instructed the shop to close until a proper licence is issued.

The Chairman of the Hatton Dickoya Municipal Council confirmed that permission to operate a retail store selling meat and fish will not be granted.