Crawford mkt fishermen body protests eviction

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra Fisher-folk Association has protested against the civic body’s orders to vacate the four-storey Chhatrapati Shivaji market building near Crawford Market that houses a wholesale fish market on the ground floor, and six civic department offices along with other state government and private offices on the upper floors. The association has demanded an alternate location in the vicinity.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Thursday issued notices to the offices and occupants to vacate within a week. “It is a question of livelihood of many suppliers. The present location is vital as it is close to the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus and stock from all over the state is brought here. The BMC cannot arbitrarily take a decision to evict us in such a short span without any consultation,” said Rajendra Meher, chairman, Maharashtra Rajya Machchimar Sahakari Sangh.

Many civic employees working in the building had also complained that no alternate office space had been provided to them. Many crucial civic departments such as estates, octroi, solid waste management, municipal chief auditor, etc. are situated in the building. However, the civic administration is firm on its notice. “Employees would have to shift in the next two days. As far as the files are concerned, a week’s time will be given. Instructions have also been issued to relocate the market within a week,” said Manisha Mhaiskar, additional municipal commissioner.

A structural audit report of the building submitted last week had declared it to be in a dilapidated state.