MTHL project: MLA demands compensation for affected Navi Mumbai farmers

NAVI MUMBAI: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) has identified 2,500 fishermen from 19 villages, largely from Raigad district, who have been affected by the Mumbai Trans-Harbour Link (MTHL) project and disbursed around Rs 38 crore as compensation.

But on Monday, BJP MLA from Belapur Manda Mhatre met chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and sought compensation for 500-600 more fishermen from four villages in Navi Mumbai who, she claimed, have also been robbed of their livelihood owing to the project.

“A committee constituted for identifying project-affected people will conduct a survey and verify if fishermen from Vashigaon, Sarsole, Karave and Diwale in Navi Mumbai too have been hit due to the MTHL project. If verified, we will provide compensation to them too,” an MMRDA official said.

The official confirmed that around Rs 38 crore has already been disbursed as compensation to the affected fishermen. MMRDA said the disbursement made is 60% of the total compensation and the part 40 % will be released during the next two fiscals.

Mhatre, along with Panvel BJP MLA Prashant Thakur, had also met Cidco managing director Lokesh Chandra last week and informed him that water bodies in Ganeshpuri village have dried up due to the ongoing Navi Mumbai airport work, affecting the livelihood of local fishermen. She demanded compensation for them.

“Chandra has been positive on the issue and a survey would be ordered soon to identify the affected fishermen,” she told TOI.

Chandra said they will forward the case to the state fishery department. “It’s a decision to be taken by the government after a study is conducted,” he added.