MUMBAI: In view of the increasing protests by the fishermen of Worli to BMC’s Coastal Road Project the civic body earlier this month decided to compensate the fishermen accordingly for a temporary period.
Worli is also the MLA constituency of environment minister Aaditya Thackeray.
A senior BMC official said, “The BMC held a meeting with the fishermen’s representatives on November 1 and took into account their concerns. They have been assured that any loss during construction will be compensated for.” A decision on how much compensation is to be given is yet to be decided, said civic officials.
The Tata Institute of Social Sciences has been appointed by the BMC to draft a compensation policy. A working group of the BMC has also been formed and many of its meetings have been held with fishermen. Nitish Patil from the Worli Koliwada Nakhwa Matsya Vyavsay Sahakari Society Limited said that they did meet the concerned civic authorities on November 1 over their issues, but a one time compensation will not be enough.
“The reclaimation in our area is affecting the fishes which we would be able to catch at the sea shore. They hardly come towards the Worli shore and are now are more towards Khar Danda, Mahim waters,” said Patil. Regarding the concerns about insufficient navigation span of the Coastal Road bridge for the passing of boats, the civic body said it is as per permissions received by respective authorities. —Richa Pinto
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/mumbai-bmc-agrees-on-one-time-compensation-for-fisherfolk/articleshow/87614794.cms
