MUMBAI: Bombay high court on Friday directed Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) to deposit Rs 10 crore towards interim compensation to be paid to over 900 fishermen who are affected due to construction of the third Thane creek bridge (TCB-III) that will be a six-lane bridge and an extension to the existing bridge near Vashi.
“Deposit the money in court by Tuesday,’’said Justices Shahrukh Kathawalla and Milind Jadhav. The judges were miffed that despite the August 12, 2021 order that directed the setting-up of a committee to determine compensation, there was no progress. Mariyayi Machimaar Sahakari Sanstha Maryadit, a society of fishermen from koliwadas such as Vashigaon, Juhugaon, Koparkhairane, Ghansoli and Diva, had moved HC last year, fearing their livelihood would be affected.
Last week, the sanstha’s advocate Zaman Ali said the deadline to pay compensation expired on January 31, 2022 and “fish catch is nil.” MSRDC’s advocate Saket Mone had then said Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute wants a year to determine compensation. The judges said interim compensation must be paid and thereafter suggested Rs 1 lakh per family. On Thursday, they warned of a stay on the construction.
Mone submitted that chronology of steps taken after the August 2021 order would show the committee’s first meeting took place on December 13. Justice Kathawalla retorted, “Chronologies are not going to help in feeding families of fishermen. Let your MD not get his salary for a few months. Let us then see what he does.” MSRDC’s managing director Radheshyam Mopalwar was present in court.
Mone said a study must be conducted for interim compensation. Giving an example of the Mumbai Trans Harbour Link project which paid Rs 5.84 lakh per family for loss of livelihood, Justice Jadhav questioned why MSRDC before starting its work did not decide about compensation.
Mone urged that HC secure MSRDC’s money and let the project go on. Ali said, “No purpose is going to be served if the amount is kept only in the court. Families are getting affected on a day-to-day basis.”
The judges said that MSRDC must deposit Rs 10 crore in the high court and added that it would be subject to further orders.
