Bombay HC raps govt over rehabilitation of fisherfolk

Mumbai: The Bombay high court Wednesday pulled up the Maharashtra government for failing to come up with a rehabilitation plan for fishermen who will be affected by the state’s coastal road project.

The court asked the state how fishermen were expected to go job hunting now. A division bench of Chief Justice N.H. Patil and Justice N.M. Jamdar was hearing a petition filed by the Worli Koliwada Nakhwa and Worli Machimmar Sarvodaya Sahakari Society against the coastal road project that proposes to connect Marine Drive in south Mumbai to suburban Kandivali. At last hearing, the court directed the state fisheries commissioner to hold discussions with the representatives of the two petitioners.

On Wednesday, government pleader Purnima Kantharia submitted details of the meeting in the court following which the bench said that the government had still not come up with a rehabilitation plan for affected persons. “What is your plan for the 700-odd fishermen families that will be affected by the project? What assistance will you give them? When the government has decided to start such a big project, then it is your job to rehabilitate the affected persons,” said Chief Justice Patil.

Kantharia told the court that fishing activities had not been prohibited and the fishermen could continue fishing but would have to do so four to seven nautical miles into the sea.