Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will appoint a consultant to conduct a survey of 15,000 fisherfolk who are likely to be affected by the construction of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link Project (MTHL). It has also constituted a committee to evaluate the impact of MTHL on fisherfolk and the compensation policy.
The development body had issued notice for tender for the study of the fishing community. According to the MMRDA, as many as 20 villages from areas like Mahul, Uran, Belapur and Trombay among others will be affected by the project.
Environmentalists have asserted that the MMRDA should implement the National Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy 2007, while carrying out demographic surveys of villages around the impact area to identify fisher families: active, part-time and occasional, and those dependent on fishery-related activities.
“The MMRDA must carry out synoptic fishing surveys in the affected area between Sewree and Nhava to establish fish biodiversity, production and biomass by suitable methods. Also, it must look into the impact on fish production due to temporary and permanent closure of the area. Estimation should be done of current fishery catch, the number of boats operated, and per boat fish catch, and the value of catch based on price structure of varieties,” said activist Godfrey Pimenta, who has written to the MMRDA on the matter.
Meanwhile, the MMRDA has already set aside around Rs 36 crores as compensation to the affected fishermen. “The compensation will be given over a period of three years. We have already been working on livelihood restoration. The amount is being disbursed to the fisheries department, which will further disburse the amount to the fishermen,” said a senior official from MMRDA.
