The Worli fishing community is firm on the BMC providing compensation to them before the coastal road construction works commence in their area. The BMC has allocated Rs 134 crore for compensation to the affected fishermen between the project years of 2018 and 2024. The compensation will be given to only those certified by the fisheries department.
The fishermen said the compensation process has been hindered time and again by the BMC’s document-related queries. They said no work along Cleveland Bunder will be allowed to proceed until they are all compensated.
Nitesh Patil of Worli Koliwada Nakhwa Matsya Vyavsay Sahakari Society said that on July 3 they had submitted all documents to the fisheries department for verification. “On July 23, the fisheries department also sent back a list of eligible persons to the BMC.
However, one month has gone by and there is no sign of compensation. We have decided that till we get it, we will not allow them to work in our area. Already, this massive project has hit our livelihood,” said Patil. The fishermen alleged there has been a decline in fish catch due to the reclamation of shallow waters since 2018.