BMC trying to evict us under guise of redevelopment: Parel fish sellers

For decades selling fish at Parelrsquos Dr Shirodkar Market has been the only source of income for 70 yearsplus Shantabai But today the septuagenarian is amongst 114 licensed fisherfolks who stare at an uncertain future They have alleged that the BMC is trying to grab their marketplace in the guise of redevelopmentThe present condition of the Dr Shirodkar Market in ParelThe civic body has planned the redevelopment of the market in two phases The first phase work on which began a few years ago is still incomplete and the fish sellers say they are being pressured to move into the underconstruction place to make way for the second phaseldquoA few weeks ago they BMCrsquos market department even tried to send a bulldozer to demolish their structures It was temporarily stalled due to resistance by local women groups and fisherwomenrdquo said Purnima Shirishkar Secretary at Savitribai Phule Mahila Vikas MandalldquoThey BMC will have to take their bulldozer over us We wonrsquot shift to an underconstruction market basement our six generations have sold fish in this marketrdquo said Shamla Worlikar 45 secretary of Dr Shirodkar Mandi Vyapari Welfare AssociationThe fish sellers say the place offered to them does not have the occupation certificate and mandatory NOC from the fire department apart from lacking in ventilationPointing to the slow pace of Phase I Purnima said the BMC has raised only five floors in the past six years and nobody knows what will be the fate of Phase II ldquoOfficials claim this is temporary but when we asked them to give the same in writing they havenrsquotrdquo she saidPurnima and the vendors say BMCrsquos former assistant commissioner Market had given in writing that repairs were underway at the market ldquoHow come they are now talking about demolitionrdquo asked PurnimaSome vendors also accused the BMC of snapping their power and water connections and creating hurdles in the renewal of their annual licences Rajini Keni BJP corporator and a member of BMCrsquos garden and market committee said the BMC is misguiding the fish sellers ldquoThese fisherfolk are not cattle who can be shunted aboutrdquo She warned of a protest if the BMC demolishes the marketUjwala Patil a rights activist and a member of Maharashtra Kruti Samiti said BMC is terming the basement the lsquolower ground floorrsquo to suit its purpose The place is not only small but also full of filth Moreover the risk of falling debris and construction noise would add to the inconveniencerdquoAdvocate Floyd Gracias who is representing the licensed fisherwomen said the ongoing work could be a risk to the fish sellers and their patrons He pointed that the BMC has not given any written assurances about the rehabilitation He added ldquoI have already sent a notice to the BMC on behalf of the fisherfolk and we are awaiting a response in the absence of which we will be constrained to take appropriate legal recourserdquoThe other sideMrudula Ande Assistant Commissioner market of BMC insisted the arrangement is temporary and that it has been done in the ldquolower ground floor and not the basementrdquo of the Phase I building planned as a 22storey structureldquoWe have to demolish the existing market start excavation and finish it before monsoon Unfortunately the work is getting delayed due to the fisherfolkrsquos noncooperationrdquo she said