Channel Bandh agitation called off after seven hrs

NAVI MUMBAI: The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) projectaffected fishing community, on Friday, conducted a Channel Bandh agitation, blocking ship movement at the country’s largest container port for seven hours.

This was in support of their 36-year-long pending issue of resettling the displaced families of erstwhile Sheva village.

The agitation was called off in the afternoon following the intervention of Raigad MP Sunil

Tatkare, who personally promised to resolve the issue in fourfive days.

“JNPT deputy chairman, Umesh Wagh, spoke to the agitators and assured that an amicable solution will be found. Wagh promised that a high-level meeting will be held next Thursday,” Dilip Koli of Paaramparik Machhimar Bachao Kruti Samiti said.

He added, “The CM and deputy CM had given orders after our previous protests and yet JNPT has not done the needful. In 1986, the government had decided to allot us a 17-acre land for the 256 displaced families and we are asking exactly the same and nothing more.”

Parmanand Koli, one of the displaced families from Hanuman Koliwada, said, “On Thursday, Raigad collector, Nidhi Chaudhary, wrote to JNPT asking to allot the land immediately to us.”

By Friday evening JNPT issued a statement which said, “JNPT has paid the entire cost towards compensation for acquiring the land and also the cost of rehabilitation to the Government of Maharashtra for resettlement of the residents of the village Hanuman Koliwada.”

Fishermen conduct Channel Bandh at JNPT on Friday.