Mumbai: Fisherfolk gherao jetty over Coastal Road project

While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation had promised that fishing won’t be affected, fishermen have claimed that it has been

Protests against the ambitious Rs 12,000 crore, 10.58-km long Coastal road project, that will be from the Princess Street Flyover to the Worli end of the sealink, continue. On Thursday the fisherfolk of Worli Koliwada protested against the barges and anchors which are part of the construction, claiming they were obstructing their fishing route.

BMC calls the police

While the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had promised that fishing won't be affected, it has, claimed the fishermen. Upset with the barges and anchors that allegedly obstructed and damaged their fishing nets and blocked the route of their boats, the fisherfolk, in their boats, surrounded a jetty constructed for the project and remained in the sea for more than two hours. The issue was resolved only after the BMC sought help from the police. These fisherfolk also alleged that their catches from the nets were stolen by the workers of the coastal road project. A meeting was held between the BMC officials and fisherfolk on October 8 wherein suggestions of alternative places were given and it was decided that work will not be carried out in the areas where fishing might be affected.

‘BMC broke promises'

According to the Kolis, for the past two days, the barges were set up for coastal road construction and this impacted the nets they cast in the nearby area. They claimed it is only after the protest that the BMC agreed to remove those obstructions. "We had to get on to our boats and protest for almost two hours for the BMC to understand our woes. We were promised that we will be informed in advance about such work. It was done where our fishing activity was affected severely. We have given them three other options for setting their barges. Now after the protest they have told us that the obstructions will be removed," said Nitesh Patil, a fisherman and representative of the Worli-Koliwada Nakhawa Matsyavyavsay Sahakari Society Limited. The Chief Engineer of the project, Vijay Nigot, was unavailable for comment.