Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai (SR)

Mumbai, Jul 15: More than five hundred fishermen, from south Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Mandai located around Crawford Market, staged a protest on Sunday morning against Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation's (BMC) decision to move them to Airoli Naka in Navi Mumbai.

The fishermen have warned they would be coming out on roads outside the fish market with 'koitas' in their hands on August 1, if BMC puts pressure on them to shift from the market. Earlier this month, the BMC had served the fishermen notice to vacate the market in one month's time as the building, where they are currently based, has been declared dilapidated. The fishermen, in turn, on Sunday, during the protest said they have decided not to move out under any circumstances as it would hamper their business.

As reported in TOI, president of Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, Damodar Tandel said, "All koli women from over 100 fish markets of Mumbai and around, purchase fish from here and everyday there is almost Rs 2 crore worth fish sold while Rs 3 crore worth fish is exported. Several families are dependent on the fisher folk who work here. We have decided that we would go on a fast unto death on August 1 if the BMC continues to force us to move out. Our koli folk are now left with no option but to come out on the streets with koitas in their hands if the police or any other authorities try to stop us for protesting against it."

BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation is planning to construct a 14 storey high rise building after demolishing the existing structure. The construction of the new structure is likely to take three years to complete.