Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has on Tuesday given one final call to fishermen affected by the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link (MTHL) project to enrol their names for compensation. A public notification has been issued by the authority in this regard. According to the MMRDA, in the project studies it has been found that fishing activities in a span of 750 metres on either side of the project alignment may get affected. Those fishermen are eligible for compensation and can enrol their names in the missing list until July 15.
Meanwhile, MMRDA officials also believe that since the project started in March 2018 and a more than a year has passed by, it is unlikely that the affected fishermen are left unidentified. Despite this, one last opportunity has been given to rule out any future hurdles. So far, only 11 per cent of the project has been completed. The Free Pres Journal had reported about Sewri fishermen who had complained that since they are not a registered association, they have not received their share of compensation. There are nearly 80 affected fishermen in Sewri. MMRDA had assured to conduct a fresh survey in this case. For the MTHL project, the MMRDA had conducted a survey in 2016 and had submitted the list to the state fisheries department for distribution of compensation money. Every affected fisherman’s family has been promised Rs 6.5 lakh. The money is being distributed in three phases — in the first phase they are given 7 per cent, and in the later two stages a sum of 20 per cent each.
