Sharad Pawar wants koliwada lands transferred in fisherfolk’s name

Expressing concern over the negative growth of the fishing business in the state, Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar assured financial support for the development of five ports. He has also asked the state government to initiate a scheme to transfer koliwada lands in the name of fisherfolk.

The growth rate in the aqua culture sector last year in the state was -6 %. Pawar, chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, deputy CM Ajit Pawar and industries minister Narayan Rane expressed their concern on the situation, while inaugurating a three-day fisheries festival, Matsyagandha, at Bandra-Kurla Complex on Sunday.
Pawar said that the original inhabitants of the city are living in pathetic conditions in koliwadas. He said that since the lands of the koliwadas are owned by the government, the fisherfolk are unsure about their future. “The government should chalk out a comprehensive plan to facilitate the kolis to own the land where they have been residing for decades. It’s high time to bring stability in their lives,” he added.

Taking a dig at the state government policies, Pawar said that it should focus on providing quality infrastructure to help business flourish. “You do not have a single market that has all the facilities that are ancillary to the fishing business. The government should modernise Sassoon dock in Colaba as a state-of-the-art market in which all the facilities, including export, are available under one roof,” he said.

Recognising the need for infrastructure, Pawar said that his ministry will allot funds for the development of four minor and a major port to facilitate the fishing business. “The Centre will share 75 % of the expenditure for the development of the minor ports, while for the major port, the contribution is cent per cent,” he said.