After environmentalists raised concerns about potential ecological devastation, local fishermen’s organisations have expressed their worries about the impact of the Versova-Dahisar Link Road (VDLR) project on their daily businesses.
They have objected to the project, stating that it will severely affect fishing activities in the Malvani, Marve, and Charkop areas and force their businesses to shut down.
They raised their objections in a meeting held at Charkop Sector 8 in Kandivali West on Thursday. The meeting, chaired by MLA Sanjay Upadhyay, was attended by officials from the BMC’s bridge department and local residents.
“Traditional fishing in this area will be entirely wipe out due to the Coastal Road project, which will lead to severe hardships and even starvation for the fishermen community,” stated representatives of the fishermen. Several fishermen’s organisations from Malwani, Marve, Gorai, Charkop, Vajira, Bandarpakhadi, and Manori raised their objections to the project, with over 200 suggestions and grievances being submitted.
Several fishermen’s organisations from Malwani, Marve, Gorai, Charkop, Vajira, Bandar pakhadi, and Manori have strongly raised their objections to the Coastal Road project, submitting over 200 suggestions and grievances in opposition to its implementation.
Darshan Keni of Charkop Koli Yuva Sansthan said, “Officials from the Coastal Road project held a meeting at Koliwada and Gaothan, where they sought detailed information about the concerns raised by fisher community.” Meanwhile, officials said, “The process for obtaining forest department approvals is underway. Soil testing for this project has already been completed.”
However, Upadhyay said, “We are making every effort to address the concerns of local residents and have even met with the MHADA Vice President to discuss community parking solutions. The goal of this project is to ensure the development of Charkop and its residents, not to cause them any harm.”
Mili Shetty, an environmentalist from Charkop Sector 8, said, “Destruction of mangroves will endanger the environment and will cause irreversible harm to the area.”
The 20 km road will connect Versova to Dahisar at an estimated cost of Rs. 16,621 crore. A 5.6 km long and 45 meters wide elevated road will also be constructed to connect Dahisar and Bhayandar. The BMC has invited suggestions and objections by April 21 regarding the diversion of 104 hectares of forest land for the project, which will impact 60,000 mangrove trees, with 9,000 slated for removal, according to civic sources.