12 August,2026 04:24 PM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
The decision to hold the rally was taken at a meeting at the Dee Manori Fisherman Co-operative Society on August 11. Pic/Special Arrangement
The Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti (MMKS) has announced a protest rally on August 21 to oppose the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) proposed desalination plant at the Manori-Gorai coast.
According to MMKS, the rally will begin at 9 am from the Manori Ferry Boat Jetty and end with a public meeting at the proposed project site. Fishermen and representatives of fishing communities from several coastal areas are expected to participate.
The MMKS, led by president Leo Colaso, has raised concerns about the possible impact of the project on marine life and coastal ecology.
The fishermen's group said that the proposed plant would draw around 500 million litres of seawater per day (MLD) and produce 200 MLD of freshwater. It has claimed that the remaining 300 MLD of concentrated brine could affect marine biodiversity if discharged into the sea.
The group has also sought clarity on the disposal of chemical sludge generated during the desalination process.
Fishermen have expressed concern that the plant's seawater intake and filtration system could affect juvenile fish and other small marine species.
The MMKS said coastal fishing communities depend heavily on near-shore waters, particularly after the monsoon fishing ban, when fishermen expect to catch high-value fish close to the shore.
The organisation fears that changes to the marine environment could affect fish stocks and the livelihoods of fishing families.
The group has also questioned the need for a large-scale desalination plant in Maharashtra, pointing to the state's rainfall and existing water resources.
It has urged the authorities to provide greater clarity on the project's water policy, environmental impact and long-term benefits.
The fishermen have also raised concerns about several other proposed or ongoing coastal infrastructure projects, which they say have already affected fishing communities.
The decision to hold the rally was taken at a meeting at the Dee Manori Fisherman Co-operative Society on August 11.
The meeting was chaired by Ramkrishna Tandel, president of the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF). MMKS president Leo Colaso and general secretary Kiran Koli also addressed the gathering.
Representatives of fishing communities from Manori, Gorai, Malwani, Charkop, Bhatti and Madh were among those present.
The fishermen's organisation has said it will continue to oppose the proposed desalination plant and called for wider discussion with coastal communities before the project moves ahead.
