40 years, still waiting: HC presses govt on fisherfolk rehabilitation plan

After waiting nearly four decades for rehabilitation linked to port development displaced traditional fisherfolk are still living in cramped transit camps as files continue to move between government departments without a final decisionPulling up authorities over the prolonged delay the Bombay High Court observed that officials were relying on procedural explanations instead of providing concrete timelines or solutions for affected familiesCalling the situation a ldquosad state of affairsrdquo the court has now granted authorities a final sixweek window to take concrete steps and submit a progress report midday in its Nov 19 2024 report titled lsquoDisplaced fishermen threaten to block JNPT channel after decades of broken promisesrsquo had highlighted the plight of the affected fisherfolkWhat the petitioners wantThe petition highlights longpending demands linked to rehabilitation and living conditionsResidents displaced from Sheva Koliwada say they have been waiting nearly 40 yearsKey demandsgtgt Timebound allotment of rehabilitation plotsgtgt Access to potable drinking watergtgt Better sanitation and civic amenitiesgtgt Improved living conditions for displaced familiesCourt unhappy with govtrsquos responseReferring to its April 22 2026 order the bench said it had specifically asked Respondent No 2 to provide a clear timeline for resolving rehabilitation issues Instead authorities submitted an office memorandum detailing the procedural movement of Cabinet notesThe court noted thatgtgt The reply only explained administrative proceduresgtgt No rehabilitation deadline was providedgtgt The urgency of the humanitarian crisis was ignoredThe judges observed that such a response was inadequate considering the suffering faced by displaced familiesldquoIt is a sad state of affairsrdquo the court observed while noting that affected families continue to suffer as files circulate between departmentsTimeline of delaysThe bench highlighted repeated bureaucratic backandforth in the matterKey developmentsgtgt Draft Cabinet Note initiated December 2023gtgt Revised draft submitted August 2025gtgt JNPA clarifications submitted December 22 2025gtgt Proposal sent to Department of Expenditure January 28 2026gtgt Fresh revisions sought February 17 2026gtgt Proposal still pending approvalThe court noted that despite multiple revisions and exchanges no final decision has been takenInterim relief plea gains significanceCourt also heard an interim application seeking immediate reliefReliefs soughtgtgt Immediate allotment of rehabilitation plotsgtgt Use of a 1016hectare land parcel identified by JNPAgtgt Water sanitation facilitiesgtgt The bench indicated that continued delays could result in direct judicial interventionTransit camp conditions under scannerThe court also took note of the living conditions at the transit camp spread across 91 gunthasConcerns raisedgtgt Overcrowdinggtgt Inadequate spacegtgt Poor sanitationgtgt Lack of basic amenitiesgtgt JNPA informed the court that steps were being taken to improve facilities at the siteCounsel speakAdv Rashid Khan lead counsel for the petitionerslsquoThe issue could have been resolved years ago but my clientsrsquo rights have been ignored and neglected We remain hopeful that this long wait will finally endrsquoAdv Siddharth Ingle advocate for petitionerslsquoDespite the grave human suffering involved the authorities have continued to hide behind bureaucratic procedures forcing families to live in deplorable transit conditions The court has now issued a final warning granting six weeks to take concrete steps failing which it will not hesitate to pass stringent directions including granting interim rehabilitation to familiesrsquoNext hearingThe matter will next be heard on June 19 2026