‘Plan rehabilitation of fishermen first’
in Mumbai, according to Koliwada-gaothan Vistaar Kruti Samiti
Affected by: Versova-bandra Sea Link
Affected by: Versova Bandra Sea Link Affected by: Both Coastal Road and Versova-bandra Sea Link
Affected by: Coastal Road
voters
households dependant on fishing and allied activities for livelihood
voters
households dependant on fishing and allied activities for livelihood
voters
boats
households dependant on fishing and allied activities for livelihood
voters on the west coast of Mumbai we spoke to
boats
households dependant on fishing and allied activities for livelihood
boats
dependant on allied businesses, such as stitching nets, providing ice for fish preservation, drying fish in the sun daily and selling their produce in the market. In December last year, Worli fishers managed to stall BMC’S work on the coastal road, until they were directed to co-operate by the HC.
Nitesh Patil, director, Worli Koliwada Nakva Matsya Vyavasay Cooperative society. said, Affected by: Shiv Smarak and Backbay Reclamation Park
households dependant on fishing for livelihood
voters
boats
“We are not going to vote this time. In Worli, we have decided to hoist black flags on voting day.”
Arvind Sawant, Shiv Sena MP from South Mumbai, said, “I relayed the demands of the Kolis to the civic chief. I also agreed that the government should give them monetary compensation for loss of livelihood. They are the city’s original inhabitants and we will not alienate them” MUMBAI: The Bombay high court on Wednesday said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) should have first come up with some plan to rehabilitate affected fishermen before undertaking a major project like the coastal road.
“You (BMC) have to have some rehabilitation plan for them (fishermen),” a division bench of chief justice Naresh Patil and justice Nitin Jamdar told senior advocate Anil Sakhare, who represented the civic body. “When you undertake such a big project, you have to first come up with plans for rehabilitation of project-affected people,” the bench added.
The judges felt the civic body, which is implementing the coastal road project, “ought to have put in place some substitute livelihood plan for the affected fishermen.” The coastal road is part of the proposed Eastern Freeway that connects Marine Lines with suburban Kandivli and expects to cut short travel time by 70%. The coastal road will start at Princess Street flyover and end at the Worli end of the Bandra-worli Sea Link.
The court was hearing a PIL filed by Worli Koliwada Nakhwa Matsya Vyavsay Sahakari Society Limited, expressing apprehension that the project involving reclamation of land along the shoreline and construction of stilted roads will have a huge impact on their customary right of fishing and is likely to adversely affect their livelihood. The petitioner body contended that there are about 995 fishermen in Worli Koliwada having 428 mechanised and non-mechanised fishing trawlers and the project will block their direct access to the sea and will thus result in loss of coastal resources, habitat and fish-breeding areas.
“No fishing villages are affected by the proposed coastal road,” stated an affidavit filed by the BMC in response to the PIL.
The court has now posted the PIL for further hearing on Tuesday after Sakhare assured the court that the civic body will try to come up with a solution to the problems of the community.