Automated Translation:
Point out least one major project where our fisherfolk aren’t being put through the grinder

Ramakrishna Keni

If there is a big government project coming up in Mumbai, Thane or Raigad district, our Kolis are extremely worried, because the impact of those projects has already reached them. Due to the chemical effluents of Tarapur Nuclear Centre, Tarapur -M.I.D.C, Boisar and Palghar MIDC, Vasai MIDC, Bhaidar MIDC, Panvel MIDC, Andheri M. I.D.C and Mahape MIDC., the creeks and beaches are polluted and the traditional fishing on the coast has been destroyed and the local fishermen have become jobless. By silting up our only creek in Dharavi —that provides fresh and tasty fish such as mussels, crabs, boi, nivatya, kilis (a four to five feet snake-like tasty fish found in muddy burrows) to feed the whole of Mumbai and which is a golden hen for us— for various projects like B.K.C. Kalanagar, Open Theater and Sion-Mahim Link Road— and killing thousands of mangroves, four to five thousand fishermen in our Dharavi Koliwada are forced to work as slaves in various factories to earn their livelihood.

ONGC has set up a 'rig' in the sea for fishing. Fishermen are prohibited from fishing within 500 meters of that rig. If they accidentally fish in the area, the ONGC personnel tear up their nets and throw them away and impose police action on them. ONGC has 172 such rigs. From this, one can only imagine how much fishing area is being taken up. Similarly, due to the chemical effluents from RCF, BPCL, HPCL, nuclear power plant etc, fishing in Mahul Koliwada bay has been destroyed.

In 1997, the then coalition government canceled the project of expansion of the port in Dahanu taluka due to the opposition of our local fishermen. But now again despite the opposition of the local MLAs and MPs, the same coalition government has decided to build the same project again. Thousands of traditional fishermen will lose their livelihood due to the port being built by Karanja Terminal and Logistics Company at Karanja, Uran. A grand Shivaji memorial is being erected in the creeks in Navi Mumbai. The coastal road from Kandivali to Nariman Point is coming to destroy the beaches of the airport and many Koliwadas in Mumbai.

There is opposition from all over the country against the Land Acquisition Act, which forcibly takes the land of farmers for various major projects. By the same logic, instead of creating an artificial island and erecting a grand Shivaji memorial on it by filling 16 hectares in the same sea the 12,00-member strong Koli community of Colaba Koliwada fishes in, alternatively the memorial should be erected instead on natural islands like Middle Ground Island overlooking the Gateway of India, Butcher Island in front of Bhaucha Dhakka, or Cross Island near Indira Gandhi (Alexander Dock), Band Stand Danda near Mount Mary, Torachi Batti in front of Danda Koliwada, the islands near Gorai Bay, Ambab and Kashya Island on Mala Bay, the island near Madh Fort, and Poshapir near Uttan Vasai. This monument should be erected on such islands and the fires of the home kept burning. Now the coastal road is only adding to the woes. This is not going to reduce traffic congestion at all - on the contrary, the environment will be destroyed, the Kolis will be destroyed.

142 crore worth of fishermen's diesel licenses have not been issued for the last four years. However, the government has announced expenditure of 2000 crores for the Shivaji Memorial and 12000 crores for the coastal road. This is like being called a leader despite dealing two severe blows to the common man. We are not taken into confidence, we are not surveyed while coming up with any project. We are not opposed to these gigantic projects, but our suggestions should be considered. Before we are rendered homeless, our livelihood should be provided for.