Fishing community to draft revamp plan for their colonies

By April, the fishing societies across Mumbai will chalk out a redevelopment plan for their own colonies.

By April, the fishing societies across Mumbai will chalk out a redevelopment plan for their own colonies.

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In a meeting of all the fishermen societies across the city at Mahim on Wednesday, the Maharashtra Machimaar Kruti Samiti (MMKS) asked the fishing communities to draft a plan for the redevelopment of their villages. As stated in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) Notification 2011, these plans will be submitted to the state government within three months for clearance.

“We want the government to provide one architect. We will have one architect per village to formulate the development plan,” said Rambhau Patil, president, MMKS.

The new rule has reduced the no-development zone to 100 metres from the current 200 metres, providing more space for the development of the 38 koliwadas across Mumbai.

The fishing community also plans to ask for 51% subsidy to build their homes, as per the state’s Slum Redevelopment Scheme. They are willing to shell out the remaining amount from their kitty.

The Kolis have always feared that the builders lobby will take over their villages in the guise of redevelopment and gain lofty benefits.

“We are strictly against builders developing our villages. The big money we invest today will be our gain in future,” said Patil.

The community is also working on the ‘The Traditional Costal and Marine Fisher folks Act’ to strengthen the rights of the fishing folks and function of the state fisheries department. The rough draft has been prepared and will be introduced in the state assembly for discussion.