Mumbai Fisherfolk To March Against Manori Desalination Plant Over Concerns On Marine Life And Livelihoods
Mumbai: Fisherfolk and residents of Mumbai’s coastal villages will march to the District Collector’s Office on October 19, demanding that the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) scrap its proposed desalination plant at Manori, alleging that the project could damage fishing grounds, marine biodiversity and traditional fishing livelihoods. Coastal Villages Raise Environmental Concerns Decision…
Mumbai's coastal communities are set to protest the construction of a desalination plant in Manori, expressing worries about its impact on marine life and local fishing livelihoods. At a meeting in Gorai on September 26, residents raised concerns about potential damage to fishing grounds, marine biodiversity and the traditional fishing lifestyle.
The coastal villages of Gorai, Manori, Pali, Malvani, Uttan and Uran questioned the submissions made to the Maharashtra Coastal Zone Management Authority (MCZMA) about the project. Fishermen's president Switsy Henriques alleged that the Environment Impact Assessment report was filed without proper consultation. Bernard D’Mello, working president of the Akhil Maharashtra Machhimar Kruti Samiti, emphasized that the sea holds cultural significance for the Koli community, and any threat to its health would be opposed.
The proposed plant would produce 400 million litres of water per day, helping to address Mumbai’s water supply deficit, which currently stands at 4,665 million litres, with the city only receiving 4,100 MLD. Despite opposition from corporators, the BMC Standing Committee approved the project, leading to the construction of a 7.2-km underground tunnel connecting the Manori desalination plant to the city’s water distribution network.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
