Mumbai: Taking note of its failure to come up with a rehabilitation plan for fisherfolks, who will be affected by the proposed coastal project, the Bombay High Court on Wednesday slammed the Maharashtra government. The HC has asked the government to place on record, its plan to rehabilitate fishermen, who are likely to lose their livelihood due to the coastal road project.
A division bench of Chief Justice Naresh Patil and Justice Nitin Jamdar was irked to note that despite earlier orders, the government did not come up with a proper rehabilitation plan for the fishermen.
Pursuant to earlier orders, the state fisheries commissioner held a meeting with the representatives of the two petitioners – Worli Koliwada Nakhwa and Worli Machimmar Sarvodaya Sahakari Society. The minutes of the meeting were submitted to the bench by government pleader Poornima Kantharia. Having perused the minutes, Chief Justice Patil said, “What has the government planned for these 700-odd fishermen families?
What is the assistance you (government) propose to give these fishermen?” “The government must understand that when it has decided to start such a huge project then it is its duty to rehabilitate the affected persons,” CJ Patil added. To this, Kantharia replied, “We have not prohibited any fishing activities. They (fishermen) can continue fishing but some four to seven nautical miles into the sea.”
Her submissions were interrupted by Justice Jamdar, saying, “The construction work will disturb the fishing activity.” “This is not the way to work. We expected the government to come up with a substitute livelihood plan for these affected persons. However, we did not get any plan yet. You must look after these persons,” the bench remarked.
Accordingly, the bench posted the matter for further hearing on March 19 with a directive to the government to come up with a rehabilitation plan for fishers. The bench was seized with petitions filed by the two fishing societies opposing the coastal road project, which would connect the Marine Drive area in south Mumbai to suburban Kandivali.
