Mumbai fishing communities call Manori-Gorai bandh on October 19 over desalination plant

Fishing communities across Mumbai and neighbouring areas have called for a bandh in Manori and Gorai on Monday October 19 and a march to the Suburban Collectorrsquos Office in Bandra East to oppose the upcoming desalination plant at ManoriAround 12 to 14 community groups are expected to participate in the protest with an estimated 3000 people likely to join according to a community leader Organisers are mobilising fishing communities from Palghar to Mumbai seeking to stop a project they fear could affect marine ecosystems traditional fishing grounds and livelihoodsThe groups have called for a united front to ldquosave fishermen farmers and sons of the soil of Manori Gorai Malvani Bhati Madh and Uttan by stopping this destructive project that threatens our oceans our lands and our livelihoodsrdquoFile picSatej ShindeBMC says environmental factors consideredA civic official said environmental impacts had been considered before the project was finalised pointing to desalination plants operating in Chennai and abroadldquoWe had considered all the factors including environmental impact before we finalised this project Similar plants are operational in Chennai and abroad where they follow certain techniques and no negative impact is reported for marine life The discarded output will be released at a deeper levelrdquo the official saidCommunity groups joining the protestThe groups listed by the organisers include National Fishworkersrsquo Forum Maharashtra Macchimar Kruti Samiti Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti Marol Bazaar Masali Vikreta Koli Mahila Sanstha Madh te Gorai Machhimar Sangharsh Samiti Sarva Koli Jamat Patil and Panch Mandale Manori Fisherman Sahakari Society Ltd Manori Sagardeep Machhimar Sahakari Society Ltd Manori Machhimar Vividh Karyakari Sahakari Society Ltd Daryavardi Mahila Sangh Mahim Mumbai Gorai Villagers WelfareFishermen question land transfer environmental impactOldin VasaikarOldin Vasaikar chairman of the Gorai Fishermen Society said local communities had not been adequately consulted before the land was transferred to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC for the projectldquoOur RTI replies show that the Collector has transferred the land to the BMC for the desalination project This move wasnrsquot in consultation with the locals who depend on the sea and the grazing land We are mobilising to show our strength to the authoritiesrdquo Vasaikar saidFishermen are concerned that the discharge of concentrated brine and chemicals from the plant could affect marine life fishbreeding grounds and fish production They also fear disruption to traditional fishing routes and access to fishing areas The community has questioned the classification of grazing land as barren land and alleged that information submitted to authorities for project approvals was inaccurate Vasaikar said the project could affect the livelihoods of fishing communities across 10 surrounding villages He urged the government to protect traditional fishing rights and the coastal ecosystem while exploring alternatives such as repairing leakages rainwater harvesting and improving existing water resourcesBusinesses to observe bandhCommunity groups are circulating flyers social media posts and banners urging people to support the bandh One flyer asks visitors to lsquoavoid Manori and Gorai on October 19rsquo and stand in solidarity with the protest A community leader told midday that local businesses including shops and fish markets would remain shut Local ferry operators have also informed the Maharashtra Maritime Board that they intend to run limited services primarily for emergencies and students the leader saidExpert calls for careful monitoring once plant is set upDr Rakesh Kumar president of the Society for Indoor Environment and former head of the National Environmental Engineering Research Institutersquos NEERI Mumbai zonal centre said the Manori desalination projectrsquos potential impact could not be assessed without detailed technical dataldquoWithout exact data itrsquos tough to judge the project What is known is there are cases where these projects have been successful but there are also cases where they failed because of the negative impactrdquo Kumar said He said the discharge of concentrated brine must be designed to ensure adequate dilution in the sea This could be more challenging along Mumbairsquos relatively shallow coastline he said and would require careful planning of the discharge location and pipelineldquoRegular checks of water concentration will be needed once the desalination plant is up to detect whether appropriate dilution is taking placerdquo he said