Cleveland Bunder, one of four artisanal fish landing centres in Worli Koliwada, could close permanently, fisherfolk claim. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) coastal road project (CRP) construction is limiting access to fishing grounds, according to the Kolis who live in the koliwada. Currently, a fourth of around 500 families – who are sustained entirely by artisanal fishing – is supported by the Cleveland Bunder.
The barrier currently in their way is an interchange bridge between the CRP and the Bandra-Worli Sea Link (BWSL). “One strong gust of wind can send our boats crashing against the pillars. It happened to many boats when BWSL was being constructed. Also, more than one boat cannot pass through the span at a given time. The pillars have slowed us down and made it an everyday risk just to reach our fishing grounds,” explains Deepak Vasudev, a fourth-generation artisanal fisherman from Worli Koliwada. The phase 2 of CRP will erect four more pillars along the Baroda Palace-Haji Ali-BWSL route, with a 60 metres gap between them. Fishermen claim this is too little.
Oorvani Foundation 2021