Coastal Road project: Fishing community says no to one-time compensation

Even as BMC announces compensation to fisherfolk as temporary measure till the construction is complete, fishermen say it is not enough; TISS has been appointed to draft a policy

Even as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in a meeting on November 1, promised to compensate fisherfolk as fishing activity was affected due to the ongoing construction work for Coastal Road, the problem is far from resolved. The civic body has clarified that the move is temporary as fishing activity will be affected only till the work is completed. But fisherfolk opposed the same, saying a one-time compensation will not be enough.

Fisherfolk also claimed that the pillars for the road, as planned, shorten their navigation span which is not enough and asked that the pillar be placed 200 metres apart, from the existing 60 metres. BMC officials said they are considering this, as the plan for the road is made according to the permissions of the respective authorities. BMC has appointed the Tata Institute of Social Sciences to draft a policy to compensate the fisherfolk during the construction of the project. It has also formed a group of officials who are holding meetings and talks with the fisherfolk. 

Explaining the process, a civic official, not willing to be named, said, “In the previous meeting held on October 8, it was clarified in which part of the sea the fishermen should not cast their nets. They were also told not to use boats in the area. However, the fishermen demanded a compensation as soon as possible and the process of fulfilling this demand has been started. The municipal commissioner held a meeting with their representatives on November 1 and assured them that there is provision of adequate navigation span in the project plan itself and that compensation will be given for the temporary loss to the fishermen during the construction of the project.”

Nitish Patil of the Worli Koliwada Nakhwa Matsya Vyavsay Sahakari Society Limited said  a one-time compensation will not be enough. “Owing to the reclamation, fish which would come to the sea shore at Worli has stopped and have moved towards Khar Danda, Mahim. There are around 2,000 boats that operate in this area and each of them carry five people. The livelihoods of all these people will be affected,” said Patil.

In the case of pillar placement and navigation span, as per the plan the distance between two pillars is 60 metres. While fisherfolk have opposed it and asked for it be increased to 200 metres, according to permissions issued by National Institute of Oceanography (NIO), navigation span is required to be five times the width of the boat for single carriage and eight times the width for double carriage, which is maintained in the plan.

According to a letter issued by the Department of Fisheries, the large licensed vessel at Worli Jetty is 10.4-metre long and 3.8-metre wide with a carrying capacity of 4,980 kg and water depth of 3.6 metres. As per this, the navigation span should be around 30.4 metres for double carriage, whereas the project has provision of a navigation span of 60 metres.

1 Nov
Day when BMC chief held meetings with fisherfolks

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