BMC assured Bombay high court on Wednesday it will not obstruct access of fishermen to Lotus jetty from where they carry out their fishing operations in the Haji Ali bay area due to reclamation work for constructing the coastal road. A bench of Justices Ramesh Dhanuka and V G Bisht heard a petition by 10 fishermen who complained that BMC has obstructed them and others from operating their boats. Also, that the petitioners are threatened and intimidated to prevent them from carrying out their bona fide livelihood activities. They urged the court for unhindered access to the jetty. Their advocate, Meenaz Kakalia, argued that BMC has repeatedly stated before the court that fishing activities from Lotus jetty will not be impaired. Therefore, the petitioners seek the fulfilment of this assurance, she added.
BMC’s reply, filed by the chief engineer (coastal road), denied the petitioners’ allegations and said reclamation work is some distance away from Lotus jetty and that it is building a navigational bridge for movement of boats of fishermen to and from the jetty. It annexed a plan to show that reclamation for the coastal road and construction of the navigational bridge do not prevent use of or access to the Lotus jetty. Senior advocate Aspi Chinoy for BMC submitted that if BMC wanted to obstruct the fishermen, then it would not build a navigational bridge. In their order, the judges recorded BMC’s assurance. While disposing of the petition, they also permitted fishermen to approach the Fisherfolk Rehabilitation Assessment Committee, set up by the state government, to settle their claim for damages to their fishing boats and related equipment.