Fishermen agree to shift from Shivaji market

The fishermen who were so far operating out of the rundown, civic-owned Shivaji market in Fort have finally decided to move to a plot adjacent to the Crawford market following a long negotiation with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. The BMC had disconnected electricity and water supply to the building on July 10, which was restored on Tuesday after the settlement.

"A decision to restore electricity and water supply was taken 10 days back in a meeting between former Mayor Sunil Prabhu and municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte," a civic source said, adding that a review meeting was taken by chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Tuesday to assess the situation.

A senior civic official informed that the structural audit report of the dilapidated market categorised the structure as a C2 structure, which means that major repairs had to be carried out.

The BMC offices on the top floor of the building were vacated and officials were shifted to other offices last year. However, the fisherfolk continued to carry out their businesses in the same building since the civic body could not identify a suitable place to relocate them. The fishermen, too, were reluctant to move out of South Mumbai because of nearby seashore and because of an influx of visitors there from different parts of the city. "They were demanding a space in Ranibaug, which was not feasible. The request to accommodate them at a railway plot near Carnac bunder was also rejected by railway officials," a civic official said.

Since the fishermen have agreed to shift and given an affidavit to the BMC on the same, the civic body will start demolishing the market in stages. "The latest audit report states that the top floors of the structure are weak, so we have decided to demolish the top three floors of the building in stages. The process will take about six months during which they would be allowed to conduct their businesses in the building from 4am to 11pm," additional municipal commissioner Sanjay Deshmukh said.

Civic officials informed that after demolishing the top three floors, a structural stability report will be sought. "If the report appears to be fine, the fishermen can continue their business in the building for the next three years till the new building at the plot adjacent to Crawford market comes up for the rehabilitation of the fishermen," an official said.

However, fishermen are worried about the fate of those who do not have the BMC license to sell fish. "We have asked for a proper layout plan from the BMC of the new place. However, we are worried about the rehabilitation of those members who do not have a license to sell fish," said Mahesh Tandel, chairman of the Maharashtra fisherman community.

He said that currently about 250 fishermen carry out their businesses there, of which about 60 do not have licenses. "We have also filed a petition with the state human rights commission in this regard," Tandel added.
Currently, a business of Rs 5.5 crore is carried out at the market by the fisherfolk.