Tarapur project: Displaced fishermen to get coastal land

The state government has not objected to providing land near the sea to fishermen who were 'rehabilitated' five km away from the sea because of the Tarapur Nuclear Power project.

In a report submitted to the Bombay high court on Tuesday by the Joint Secretary (Rehabilitation) Sadhanand Jadhav, Department of Revenue and Forest, stated, "As per a government resolution passed on February 4, 1983, the power to allow fishermen to use the public land without transferring the property rights to a third party is vested with the Collector."

The affidavit further said, "The Thane Collector can allow the use of the land to the affected fishermen."

The report was submitted during the hearing of an application filed by 53 families who were rehabilitated after the Tarapur nuclear power project was set up.

In the last hearing, the court had directed the state to consider giving better fishing facilities and coastal land to anchor their boats and keep their fishing equipment.

Advocate KN Kore, who represented Unbat village, where some families have been rehabilitated said there will be problems between the natives of Unbat and the newcomers.

Kore suggested that a dialogue between the two parties will be initiated to settle the matter amicably. The court granted them time till October 19 for it.   

Bharatiya Janta Party leader Ram Naik who intervened for other families argued that the families were shifted to a place five km away from the sea shore, at the Kopran village, without giving space to anchor their boats, nor keep their fishing material.

The houses given to them are far away from the area of operation. It doesn't meet the needs of the rehabilitation.

Naik also informed the court that the project has been executed by the state government and even though the beneficiary is Nuclear Power Corporation Ltd, the onus of rehabilitation lies with the state government.

The high court was hearing the petitions filed by several villagers claiming that the government and NPCL, which was handed over the project, has failed to fulfil the promises made during rehabilitation.