The Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kriti Samiti on Tuesday demanded that the proposed mid-sea Shivaji memorial be shifted to Bandra. As of now, it is proposed off the coast near Raj Bhavan in south Mumbai.
The fishermen's body has stated that if moved there, it would save the livelihood of fishermen and help keep high-risk targets at a distance from each other. The demand, along with another one related to Food and Drug Authority (FDA), was made at a press conference held at Marathi Patrakar Sangh.
The state recently managed to get clearance from the Union environment ministry to have the memorial at a distance of 1.5 km from Raj Bhavan on a rocky patch in the Arabian Sea. The project cost for the memorial is estimated at Rs2,000 crore.
"We have not yet approached the government on it. We want to make this demand to them through the press. There are around 350 fishermen in that area who will get affected due to this. Also, there is the issue of security. In any case, there are a number of high-risk targets like the Raj Bhavan, Nariman Point and World Trade Centre in the area. In the guise of tourism, if someone comes on a boat and attacks any of these places, it can be a danger," said Damoder Tandel, president of the Samiti.
Tandel further added that having a memorial in Bandra along Bandstand or Carter Road could be cheaper. The Samiti stated that there are rocky patches in that side and fishermen will not be affected. When asked about those in Khar Danda and Chimbai, Tandel said that there are hardly a few and that most of them had stopped fishing in that side of the sea.
The other demand they raised was of scrapping of the FDA rule of giving licences to those who go door to door to sell fish. They also demanded scrapping of the fine levied if fishes are not of good quality.
"They have come out with a rule and will be surveying fish markets. They should first form rules of what exactly are the parameters. On one hand, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has stated that door to door selling is illegal, while on the other, FDA is giving licences to hawkers. This will kill the business of fisherfolk. We want them to resolve these issues," said Nayana Patil, one of the fisherfolks who attended the press meet.
The Samiti is likely to meet minister for Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) Girish Bapat soon.
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