We'll end up on the streets': Fishermen oppose coastal road

The Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti (AKMKS) on Monday vehemently opposed the coastal road project and the Shivaji Memorial during a press conference at the Marathi Patrakar Sangh. The Samiti members want the former scrapping altogether as they fear it will result in their dislocation (due to reclaiming of land) and affect their business (by hampering the ecological balance).

"They say that the coastal road project will cost half the amount of the sea link. However, they have not factored the losses we will face. Also, environment minister Prakash Javdekar had said that they conducted some assessment of the losses we will face. How come we do not know of such a survey? Before finalising the plan, they should have put up an advertisement seeking suggestions and objections. They have not done that. We will end up on to the streets if they go ahead with the plans," said Damoder Tandel, president of the AKMKS.

According to him, there are eight lakh people who will be affected by the plans. "Every time, it is the fishermen who suffer. If a dignitary comes, our business is shut first. Do they shut down the entire city for the dignitary? Why are only we made to suffer?" asked Tandel.

The group is likely to meet the revenue minister today. Earlier, they had stated that creating an island for the Shivaji memorial will grossly affect their fishing business besides having too many sensitive locations like Raj Bhavan and Nariman Point close to each other.

DP condemned too

The new development plan of the city was condemned by the fishermen, who said that it ignored them altogether. "The plan completely does away with no-development zones where most of our businesses exist. They should have made some provisions for us too. They have completely ignored us," said Tandel.