Fishermen in Marol fish market have to sell their fish in the scorching sun

Millions of rupees are exchanged daily in Mumbai's Marol fish market. But in this market, there are more problems than fish! If the municipality allocates crores of rupees every year for their maintenance, then who is responsible for wasting it? The state of the fish market has not changed for decades. The women Koli fishmongers are struggling with many problems.

Dried fish in the market

Problems aplenty!

No convenience, cleanliness and safety in Marol dried fish market

Sakal News Service

Mumbai, 13th: Marol market is well-known in the state for its wholesale dried fish market, but is riddled with problems. Cleanliness and safety are nowhere to be seen. But since the needs of the sellers seem to have been ignored while building the fish market, Koli fisherwomen are forced to sit and do business in the scorching sun. The vendors have been expressing their anger as the Municipal Corporation has been neglecting the Marol market for many years.

A weekly market especially for dried fish has been held in Marol market for two hundred years. Women from various Koliwadas in Mumbai come to this market two days a week to sell dried fish. This business has been going on for generations. Thousands are traded in this market per week; But in the name of facilities there is absolutely nothing. The municipality renovated this market in 2007; But at that time the needs of the sellers were not considered. Platforms were built here like they were in the fresh fish market. But since the sellers do not use these platforms, they have to sit and sell fish in the hot sun. Marol fish market is suffering from many such problems. Marol Market Women Fishmongers Association followed up with the municipality several times; But the administration lent them a deaf ear.

In the 90s, there was an attempt to give a prime plot of the market to a builder. But after the protests of the fishmongering women here, the market was in a bad state. It was difficult to do business there during the rainy season. After follow-up, the municipality repaired the market in 2007, and didnt bother checking after that. So the problems increased day by day.

Increasing incidences of theft

The municipality has not provided even simple security to Marol Market, which is known as the traditional fish market of the city. Both the entrance gates are broken. Rajeshree Bhanji, President of Women Fishmongers Association informed that lakhs worth of fish have been looted due to this. Let alone replace an entrance that has been broken for years; Bhanji expressed regret that the municipality does not even carry out simple welding work.

Ponds in the rainy season

A pipeline was installed to drain rainwater; but it is in bad condition. The rain channels are not repaired. Due to this, ponds of stagnant water are formed in the market during monsoon. Therefore, every year during the rainy season, lakhs of fish are spoiled.

No space for cars too

Trucks arrive with dried fish on market days, but there is not enough room to reverse them. Therefore trucks have to be diverted between Ghatkopar-Andheri road. As a result, there is a traffic jam.

Hanging electrical wires - risk of short circuit

The connection of power lines made by the municipality while renovating the market has deteriorated, so there is always a risk of short circuit. Sometimes such things happen. Fortunately, there has been no major damage. Dry fish are packed in sheds with plastic and linen sacks. Sellers expressed fear that even a single spark will destroy everything. 200 lamps and 9 tubelights were installed by the municipality during the renovation of the market; But the municipality has not changed them after 2007.

Marol Market does not get any facilities from the municipality. Many times even the electricity bill is not paid. Due to this, power supply is interrupted after four-five months. The security issue is also the same. Fish is stolen. Several letters were sent to the municipality; but they was ignored.

- Rajeshree Bhanji (President, Marol Market Fishmonger Koli Women's Association)

As the platforms have not been constructed properly, fish has to be sold in the hot sun. Dry fish is in high demand during the rainy season; but doing business is difficult due to bad market conditions.

- Vasanti Bhate (Fishmonger)

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