Mumbai fishermen protest against proposed Manori desalination plant

Fishermen outside Mumbai’s district collector’s office in Bandra East on Monday, protesting against the proposed water desalination plant in Manori. Pics/Ashish Raje

Hundreds of fishermen from Mumbai's western coast gathered outside the District Collector's office in Bandra East at 12.00 pm on Monday to protest against the proposed desalination plant in Manori. They urged the collector to halt the project, citing concerns over their livelihoods.

[popcorn number="10.00 am" desc="The scheduled time for the protest to begin" class="Default"]

Journey to Bandra

Fishermen travelled from Manori, Gorai, Madh, Versova, Colaba, Cuffe Parade, Uttan, Vasai, and Bhayander, among other coastal areas, to join the protest scheduled for 10.00 am. They alleged that buses travelling from Madh were detained by the police, forcing many to use alternative modes of transport to reach Bandra.

Unstudied impact

Fishermen alleged that the project's impact on their community had yet to be studied and claimed it could be avoided altogether.

Fishermen Speak

Malcom Jiu, a fisherman from Gorai
‘We have come from Gorai to protest against the desalination project. The development is unfair for fishermen and their livelihoods. We don't know what will happen to the ocean when a large quantity of water has been sucked out, and saline water is thrown back in.'

Jordan Luji, an Uttan-based fisherman and MNS worker
‘The salination of the sea may increase after the plant becomes operational. Fish like bombil, kolambi, and mandeli may be affected, and over the next few years, we may not be able to fish. Instead of focusing on other topics, the fisheries department should address such issues alongside rising diesel prices.'

Activist Speak

Switsy Henriques, president, the Gorai Villagers Welfare Association
‘Desalination plants can be put up in rain-deficient areas. In cities like Mumbai, where rainwater is already abundant, desalination plants are not necessary. Such plants have already been set up in Chennai and have had adverse effects on fishermen communities.'

Coastal fears

Sandra Gabru, a member of the Gorai fishermen community
‘We left Gorai at 7.30 am, but many of our buses were halted. Instead of wasting time, we got down and took any mode of transport available. Many of us took the train, some were accommodated in a bus leaving from Uttan, and the rest took their own vehicles. The desalination project is being pushed onto us. Small fish that lay their eggs along the coast in April and May could be affected when the plant pulls in seawater. We have been here for generations, and we have no other occupation or village. This is our native land.'

Fr Robin Fargose, a member of the Dharavi Bet fishermen community in Bhayander
‘We are ancestral fishermen and fear the desalination plant may affect all the coasts. The saline water can get saturated in the sea and form sediments, leading to big losses for the Koli community.'