Sassoon Dock to turn modern at Rs 52 crore

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has sanctioned `52 crore for the modernisation of the Sassoon Dock at Colaba. The amount will be used to bring in better facilities like an auction hall, better sewage system, space to keep ice, an effluent treatment plant, restrooms for the fishermen, better security system and CCTVs to the dock. However, the local fishermen community has alleged that their demands, regarding diesel pumps, have not been taken into consideration. 

The Sassoon Dock is one of the oldest docks in the city that not only supplies fish to the city but also acts as an export hub to dispatch fishes to many countries. The government sanctioned the money two days ago. “The modernisation of the Sassoon Dock was on the cards for a long time. The government has now sanctioned the funds to make various facilities available to the fishermen,” said an official from the fisheries department.  

 As per the Maharashtra Fisheries Development Corporation Ltd (MFDCL), the proposed plan will be confined within the existing unit and no additional land will be procured for it.

According to a report by MFDCL, the modernisation work includes, conversion of existing open fish auction sheds into modern fish handling and auction halls, construction of a new handling area, upgrading the existing seawater supply to it, creating fresh water distribution lines, providing tube ice plant and conveyor system to transfer the tube ice to the vessels. As a part of the plan, radio communication tower with instruments and equipment will also be built.
However, fishermen leader Damodar Tandel said that the government officials did not consult them before chalking out the plan. “The Sassoon Dock requires modernisation and the government should take initiative. But, there are a few things like making diesel pumps available, creating space for fishermen to repair their nets, which haven’t been addressed by them. Though we have been sanctioned a diesel pump, the plan is still just on paper. The fishermen still have to wait three days to get a fuel recharge. Ideally, they should go to the sea every day. Also, there is no restroom or canteen facility for us, despite the fact that 5,000 fishermen work on the dock every day,” said Mr Tandel.